On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said alleged WhatsApp communications reported in Indian media by an Indian anchor show that the Modi government used the Balakot incident for political gains, a claim that he had already admitted in the 2019 UNGA session to the world.
The premier pointed to recent transcripts of suspected WhatsApp communications between firebrand Indian anchor Arnab Goswami and Pratho Dasgupta, the imprisoned head of ratings firm Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), indicating that the TV host knew about the attempt of the Modi government to stage a military attack in Pakistan days before the incident on February 26, 2019.
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The Prime Minister recalled in a series of tweets that he had told the international community in his address at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had “used the Balakot crisis for domestic electoral gains”
“Latest revelations from communication of an Indian journalist, known for his warmongering, reveal the unholy nexus between the Modi govt and Indian media that led to a dangerous military adventurism to win an election in utter disregard for the consequences of destabilising the entire region,” tweeted the prime minister.
He said Pakistan had “averted a larger crisis by a responsible, measured response to Balakot” The actions of the Modi administration, however, are turning India into a “rogue state” he said.
He said that the Indian funding of extremism in Pakistan, the violation of human rights by the Indian powers in occupied Kashmir, and a 15-year long deception operation to undermine nations in conflict with New Delhi, all of which are revealed to Pakistan, is funded by India.
“Now India’s own media has revealed the dirty nexus that is pushing our nuclearised region to the brink of a conflict it cannot afford,” the premier said.
I want to affirm that my government will continue to reveal the belligerent plots of India against the fascism of Pakistan and the Modi government. Before the brinkmanship of the Modi government drives our region into a war it can not contain, the international community must deter India from its irresponsible, militarist policy.
‘Bigger than a normal strike’
Last week, in a case related to suspected television ratings fraud, the Mumbai police submitted evidence. The proof included excerpts of Goswami and Dasgupta’s supposed WhatsApp messages that show that the former was aware of the preparations of the Indian government to stage a military attack in Pakistan.
“According to excerpts of the alleged conversations published by Scroll.in, on Feb 23, 2019, Goswami texted Dasgupta, saying: “Something major will happen on another note.
Dasgupta asked, after a few messages on other subjects, “Dawood?” ‘, referring to a notorious gangster who, in many instances, is wanted.
The talk kept going:
“Arnab Goswami: “There’s no Sir Pakistan. This time, something big will be done.’
Partho Dasgupta: “Excellent.”
Partho Dasgupta: “This season is good for Big Man.”
Partho Dasgupta:”Then he’ll sweep the polls.”
Partho Dasgupta: “The strike??” And greater
Arnab Goswami: “A bigger strike than a normal one.” And there is also something interesting about Kashmir at the same time. The government is optimistic in Pakistan that it will hit in such a way that people will be happy. Exact terms used precisely.
Three days later, an Indian air force plane violated Pakistan’s airspace and returned to a forest in Balakot after lowering its cargo. The Indian media depicted the incident as a serious offence toward Pakistan and the then BJP government reported that “more than 250 terrorists” were killed in the Balakot air strikes on “training camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)” There were, in fact, no injuries.
Both nuclear-armed countries were on the verge of war after the attack. Pakistan replied the next day by shooting down two Indian aircraft, one of which crashed into Pakistani territory. The pilot was taken into detention, but was released as a sign of goodwill one day later.
Excerpts from the suspected chats reveal the day after the episode, Dasgupta texted Goswami asking if this was what he was hinting at.
Goswami, replying in the affirmative, added: “More to come”
According to TheWire, these reported talks, covering issues from the Pulwama attack to the invasion of Kashmir, are only a part of the mammoth transcript that reveals that Goswami was well aware of the preparations of the Indian government in advance.
Soon after the February 14, 2019, Pulwama strike, in which 40 soldiers were killed, Goswami allegedly wrote to Dasgupta recognising how his channel had been supported by the attack. According to extracts released by TheWire, “We won this attack like crazy,” he reportedly wrote the same evening at 5:43pm.
For Goswami, who is known for vigorously backing Modi and his Hindu nationalist policies during his nightly shows, these new findings are particularly damning, frequently shouting down critics.
At a time when other media channels say press freedom is under attack, critics have long accused Republic TV of pandering to Modi’s agenda.
India’s disinformation campaign
In an investigation titled The Indian Chronicles last year, the Brussels-based EU DisinfoLab uncovered an Indian misinformation network running since 2005 that seeks to consolidate India’s pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan (and anti-Chinese) feelings.
The network works globally to maintain influence and boost India’s credibility and harm the prestige of competing countries, so that India can potentially benefit from further cooperation from foreign organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations.
The network used fictitious citizens of a deceased human rights leader and journalists to do so, as well as pretending to mimic regular media and news organisations such as the EU Observer, the Economist and Voice of America.
The network also used European Parliament letterheads, registered websites with false phone numbers under avatars, given fake addresses to the United Nations, and set up publishing firms to print think tank books they owned.
Overall, an entire network of more than 500 bogus local media outlets in 95 countries helped to replicate adverse Pakistani iterations (or China). In total, 116 countries and nine regions have been covered by the operation.
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The findings came a year after the same organisation exposed a network of obscure NGOs and think tanks that enabled over 200 ‘false’ news outlets run by an Indian network to control Pakistan’s vital material in the EU and UN.
Overall, an entire network of more than 500 bogus local media outlets in 95 countries helped to replicate adverse Pakistani iterations (or China). In total, 116 countries and nine regions have been covered by the operation.
The findings came a year after the same organisation exposed a network of obscure NGOs and think tanks that enabled over 200 ‘false’ news outlets run by an Indian network to control Pakistan’s vital material in the EU and UN.
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