How India is countering Pakistan's false propaganda

IN recent weeks, the irony of Pakistan chairing key UN counter-terrorism committees has not been lost on the Indian public or its leadership. But lamenting irony is not enough. India must rise not just in protest but also in purpose. As terrorism continues to cast a long shadow over South Asia, our response must be anchored in clarity, vision and constructive engagement. The task ahead lies not only in exposing duplicity but also in shaping solutions that uphold truth, strengthen diplomacy and ensure regional stability.As part of the Global Outreach Programme, seven delegations were dispatched to engage with nations across the globe. I had the privilege of being in the delegation that visited Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt.Our mission was clear: present India's perspective with conviction and counter misinformation. We highlighted the threat of cross-border terrorism and India's measured response to the Pahalgam attack — targeted action to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, not escalate conflict.India counters global misinformation with action, not words. Post 1971, we returned 13,000 sq km and released 93,000 POWs — strength through statesmanship. I was part of Prime Minister Vajpayee's 1999 bus diplomacy to Lahore. This act of peace met with betrayal in Kargil and the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. Yet, India never closed the door on dialogue. Our stand: respond to falsehood with facts, betrayal with resolve and always pursue peace from strength.The problem, as we established, is not episodic. It is structural. Pakistan functions as a dual state: a shaky civilian government overshadowed by a deep state-military intelligence nexus that operates as a rogue force. Since 1947, no civilian government in Pakistan has completed a full term. Democratic institutions remain hollowed out, manipulated by Generals and agencies.And then came the moment of truth. Pakistan’s own former Foreign Minister admitted on BBC: “Yes, we have been doing this dirty job for 40 years, at the behest of the West—namely the US and UK.” The admission should have jolted global conscience. Instead, it was met with silence, with realpolitik burying accountability yet again.The results are clear. Today, 52 Pakistani individuals and entities are listed on the UN Security Council's Sanctions List for terrorism. These are not claims; they are official international designations.Diplomacy, too, must adapt. In today's world, social media is a battlefield. False narratives about Kashmir, India's democracy and its minorities are amplified by networks seeking to destabilise us. We need a proactive, multilingual and digitally agile strategy. The government must work with civil society, tech firms and influencers to debunk propaganda in real time. A single timely fact can silence a thousand lies.Equally vital is the role of think tanks and public intellectuals. India must invest in narrative power — supporting those who can engage with global media, academia and multilateral forums and a well-informed diaspora empowered with verified data and regular briefings. We must not let the conversation on South Asia be hijacked by agenda-driven voices. We must shape the global discourse with facts, transparency and moral clarity.India, by contrast, showed immense patience. It granted Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan in trade. It opened the Integrated Check Post at Wagah to promote people-to-people contact. But goodwill was weaponised against us. After the 2019 Pulwama attack, in which 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were martyred, India revoked Pakistan’s MFN status. Trust had bled dry.If international media truly wishes to understand Kashmir, they must see the smiling faces of children in Baramulla, the bustling hotels of Gulmarg, and the girls studying freely in Kupwara. The change is visible—but only if you dare to look beyond the narrative spun in Rawalpindi. Since the abrogation of Article 370, over $5 billion was pumped into infrastructure, tourism has been at an all-time high, and thousands of young people in Kashmir are now employed in startups, tourism, and traditional crafts.Amid all this, India has stayed committed to No First Use (NFU) in nuclear doctrine. It is not a doctrine of timidity but of strength. In the face of persistent provocation—from Kargil to Pulwama to Pahalgam—India has chosen restraint, an act of leadership.India must also lead in building multilateral platforms for truth and engagement. India should propose a South Asia Peace and Development Forum — bringing together political leaders, diplomats, scholars, bureaucrats and business voices. This forum could serve as a counterweight to misinformation while advancing dialogue on counter-terrorism. SAARC may be fading, but India must have robust and dynamic alternatives like BIMSTEC.At the global executive level, India must institutionalise joint task forces with democracies such as the EU, the US, South Africa, Egypt and others. These coalitions should prioritise critical issues like counter-radicalisation, cybersecurity and intelligence-sharing, with Pakistan's duplicity. The world must be made aware of the facts India possesses through incontrovertible evidence.Simultaneously, addressing the false narrative that India is overly aligned with Israel at the expense of Palestine, India reaffirmed its principled stance. India’s support for the Oslo Accords, its $40 million humanitarian aid contribution, and its vote in favour of 10 out of 13 UN resolutions—including abstaining on resolutions related to the ICJ and trade—clearly underscores its commitment to a balanced approach. India does not seek domination; it seeks responsible leadership. Our vision is one of roads, railways and opportunities, not rockets and radicals.The African Union has robust measures against terrorism, addressing the growing nexus between terrorism, transnational organised crime, illicit financial flows and the use of advanced technologies like satellites and drones. Article 7B of the AU's Peace and Security Council stipulates that if any member state fails to comply with its zero-tolerance terrorism policy, the African Union forces are authorised to intervene. I wish SAARC had such strong provisions in place.India can emerge as a strong voice for peace in the global south. Let the world know: India does not rest in silence. It remembers. It rebuilds. And, it responds.Vikramjit Singh Sahney is a Rajya Sabha MP. He was part of the parliamentary delegation for global outreach against terrorism to Egypt, Ethiopia, Qatar & South Africa.

How India is countering Pakistan's false propaganda

SAARC may be fading, but India must have robust and dynamic alternatives like BIMSTEC.

Vikramjit Singh Sahney

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