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India Needs Cognitive Warfare Plan
Defence Kashmir Pakistan Security Terrorism
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India Needs Cognitive Warfare Plan

Fighting enemy on information highway as on ground emerges a big challenge and opportunity for Bharat that’s declared war on terror. Rohan Giri In the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strike against cross-border terrorist camps in Pakistan, a disturbing counteroffensive has emerged—not on the battlefield, but in the information domain. The recent statement by Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)—disguised as a call for peace—reveals a deeper, coordinated attempt to delegitimize India’s national security concerns. On the parallel, certain social media influencers and public figures have echoed narratives that align more with Islamabad’s propaganda machinery than with India’s democratic discourse. Convergence of disinformation, ideological proxies and cognitive warfare by deftly manipulating freedom of speech calls for deep dive analysis. Cross-Border Strikes to Cognitive Warzones Operation Sindoor was launched in response to brutal killing of 26 Indian civilians by Pakistan-backed jihadi groups in Pahalgam. Indian Armed Forces counter-terror operation—based on actionable intelligence— neutralised multiple terror hideouts along Line of Control (LoC) and deep into Pakistan. Even before the word was out on the operation, a parallel battlefront opened in the digital sphere. Assorted Left extremists who have lost the plot and support of people re-grouped under CPI(ML) had the gumption to cynically talk about “war mongering,” “mock drills,” and “jingoism” instead of outright condemnation of terrorists, their backers and handlers. Deliberate attempt has been made by CPI-ML to shift focus away from campaign against terror, victims of terror to a narrative of false equivalence placing India’s defensive response and Pakistan’s terrorism on same plane. This is not an isolated political position. It is an ideological posture with global resonance—amplified by social media handlers, YouTubers, and creators whose content is now being routinely picked up by Pakistani media to discredit India’s war against terror. Cultural Expression as Cover for Subversion For instance, Neha Singh Rathore, a content creator and folk performer came under legal scrutiny for provocative posts that allegedly promote communal disharmony. Rathore’s content—strategically laced with satire and emotion—has been widely shared across borders, especially in Pakistani outlets eager to highlight India’s “internal repression.” While art and dissent is at core of democracies like Bharat, Rathore’s content is not organically critical, instead ideologically consistent with Pakistan’s strategic communication goals. The timing, targeting and terminology in such digital content reflect more than personal opinion—they indicate agenda-setting behaviour. CPI(ML) and figures like Rathore are not merely engaging in protest; they are building parallel narratives that erode legitimacy of India’s campaign against terror. When these narratives go viral, they serve the psychological warfare strategies of hostile powers. Beijing in 1962 to Islamabad Today Maoist and marxist gangs have a long history of siding with foreign adversaries. During 1962 Sino-Indian War, segments of CPI openly supported China dismissing Indian territorial claims and branding national mobilization as bourgeois nationalism. Today, the same ideological model has evolved, more sophisticated, digitally native and far more dangerous. By refusing to condemn cross-border terrorism and attacking India’s right to respond, CPI(ML)’s latest statement resurrects this playbook. It leverages democratic tolerance to inject disinformation, exploit communal sensitivities and erode confidence of Indian populace in its institutions. The party’s warning against “war preparations” and “state violence” is couched in humanitarian concern but functionally serves to paralyze India’s right to strategic deterrence. This is not peace activism—it is information sabotage. Legal and Civic Clarity India’s commitment to free speech under Article 19 of Constitution remains robust. This freedom is not absolute. The new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 152 replacing the colonial-era sedition law, rightly targets acts that threaten unity and integrity of nation including narrative warfare. In the digital era, narrative disruptors have become as strategically valuable to the enemy as traditional insurgents. Unlike overt enemies, these actors often present themselves as poets, comedians, journalists or social reformers. Their strength lies in ambiguity, their power in virality. Perception Wars and Legitimacy Battle International opinion is increasingly shaped by perception rather than policy. In this context, India’s counter-terror narratives must compete not only with traditional media but with decentralized content ecosystems that are vulnerable to infiltration, manipulation and illegal funding. When disinformation aligns with an adversary’s diplomatic strategy i.e., portraying India as an aggressor and the region as unstable, it not only undermines counterterrorism efforts but damages India’s geopolitical credibility in multilateral forums. Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following Pahalgam Terror attack was a bold diplomatic move, signaling a shift in India’s engagement with Pakistan. But without narrative control, such moves risk being framed globally as escalatory rather than defensive. Strategic Culture of Narrative Resilience India needs more than military readiness; it requires a strategic communication plan that integrates law, policy and narrative discipline. This includes: CPI(ML) statement and online activism that follows it are not expressions of dissent—they are symptoms of a deeper vulnerability: India’s tolerance for internal ideological actors who camouflage sedition as satire. As India rises on the world stage, its battles will increasingly be fought in the cognitive domain. Winning them will require legal, civic, and strategic clarity. (Author is a doctoral fellow at Amity University in Gwalior, content head at Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)

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Global Terror Factories Targeted During Operation Sindoor by India
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Global Terror Factories Targeted During Operation Sindoor by India 

India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, 2025, involved missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. India’s stated aim was to target and dismantle terrorist infrastructure used for planning and carrying out attacks against India, specifically mentioning groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). India maintained that these strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” intended to avoid Pakistani military facilities and civilian casualties. Pakistan fake claimed that India targeted civilian areas, including mosques, resulting in significant civilian deaths and injuries. Reports from Pakistan mentioned a mosque being hit in Muzaffarabad, and a mosque complex struck in Bahawalpur, leading to casualties. India’s perspective, based on the provided information, is that these sites, irrespective of containing any religious structures, were legitimate military targets because their primary function was facilitating terrorism. They argue that the presence of religious or civilian structures might be a deliberate tactic to shield terrorist activities or gain legitimacy. India emphasized that intelligence confirmed these locations were actively used as recruitment, training, indoctrination, and operational hubs for terror groups responsible for attacks on Indian soil.

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Brief - Pakistan Targets Sikhs, Gurdwara
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Brief: Pakistan Targets Sikh Gurdwara

Pakistan’s army began an unprecedented campaign of cross-border small arms and artillery bombardments into Jammu & Kashmir almost immediately after April 22, 2025 Pakistan backed terrorist attack in Pahalgam (which killed 25 Tourists, after ascertaining their Hindu faith). By April 24, India had suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and within hours Pakistan “resorted to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, starting from the Kashmir valley”.

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Operation Sindoor: India’s justified calibrated kinetic strikes Against Terror
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Operation Sindoor: India’s justified calibrated kinetic strikes Against Terror

An unbroken thread links India’s 21‑year struggle against cross‑border terrorism, from the 2001 Parliament attack to the 2016 “surgical strikes” and the 2019 Balakot air strikes, into the present moment. On  22  April  2025 five Lashkar‑e‑Taiba gunmen slaughtered twenty‑six mostly Hindu tourists at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Anantnag district, after segregating the victims by religion.[1] Within twenty‑four hours New  Delhi’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) validated   “cross‑border linkages,” suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and ordered a graduated response “to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.”[2] Economic and diplomatic screws turned first: a blanket ban on Pakistani imports (2  May)[3] and reciprocal port closures (4  May)[4] reduced bilateral trade to zero and shrank the two High Commissions to skeletal staffs. Yet Pakistan army mortar fire persisted across the Line of Control, and Indian intelligence traced the Pahalgam cell to Lashkar training clusters in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Jammy and Kashmir (PoJK). With public outrage mounting, the government authorised a justified calibrated kinetic strike, Operation  Sindoor.

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Pahalgam Attack - A Wake-Up Call on Global Islamist Terror
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Pahalgam Attack: A Wake-Up Call on Global Islamist Terror

Dr. Shailendra Kumar Pathak On April 22, 2025, the tranquil hills of Baisaran near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, were torn apart by a chilling act of Islamist terrorism. In what stands as the deadliest civilian attack in the region in nearly two decades, four terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people, including one Nepali citizen, and injuring over three dozen others. Eyewitnesses and digital evidence confirm this was no random shooting. Victims were asked to state their religion. Those unable to recite the Islamic Kalma were shot at close range. Among the slain was a Hindu tourist from Jaipur, whose zipline camera intended to capture his joyful ride instead recorded his last moments, and something more damning: a zipline operator shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. That operator, now under interrogation, has become a critical link in the case. In another video circulating widely, a ponywala is seen asking a tourist intrusive Islamic religious questions; his face has since been matched with a suspect sketch. Investigators have identified at least 15 locals suspected of assisting the terrorists—guides, ponywalas, and support staff, allegedly feeding information on tourist movements, faith identities, and schedules. The terrorist outfit that claimed responsibility, The Resistance Front (TRF), is not an obscure entity. It is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the same Pakistani group behind 2008 Mumbai attacks, 2006 train bombings, and 2001 Parliament assault. LeT is not just listed under the UN’s ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List as Entity QDe.118—its leader Hafiz Saeed is individually sanctioned (QDi.263) and subject to a global asset freeze and travel ban. Yet the UN Security Council’s April 25 statement on the Pahalgam attack offered nothing more than a sterilized platitude, condemning terrorism in vague terms while refusing to name the perpetrators. This is no clerical error; it is a calculated omission, an act of diplomatic cowardice. The targeting of civilians based on identity is not new. 2008 Mumbai attacks saw Jewish hostages at the Chabad House tortured before being executed. In 2015, ISIS attackers at the Paris Bataclan theatre separated Muslims from non-Muslims before slaughtering the latter. In Sri Lanka (2019), ISIS-aligned suicide bombers killed over 250 Christians during Easter Sunday services. The Normandy church attack (2016) involved a priest being murdered at the altar by Islamic extremists. In Pakistan, churches, Ahmadiyya mosques, and Hindu temples have been bombed, often with tacit state approval or outright inaction. October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel adds a stark, contemporary comparison. On that day, Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli border communities, murdering over 1,200 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, in homes, at a music festival, and on the streets. Entire families were executed. Many victims were burned alive or taken hostage, including infants and Holocaust survivors. These attacks were not acts of war against military targets; they were ethnic-religious pogroms, carried out with ideological hatred against Jews. Multiple reports, including intercepted communications, revealed that fighters were explicitly told to “kill Jews,” not just Israelis. This ideology-driven massacre mirrors the Pahalgam killings in its intended religious cleansing, its brutality, and its celebration by supporters afterward. Back in Pahalgam, grief has turned to fury. Families of victims, especially those who lost children and spouses, have spoken out about their sense of abandonment, not just by the security failure, but by the international community’s refusal to name the attackers. Their anger is amplified by reports of local betrayal. The suspicion that those who once served tea or led treks may have helped identify targets adds a deep psychological wound to an already devastating tragedy. Investigative agencies believe this network of collaborators may have fed attackers real-time location data, ensuring maximum carnage with minimal resistance. The hypocrisy of Kashmir’s local response adds to the cynicism. While candlelight vigils were held to project an image of peace, journalists who arrived to report on the massacre were heckled, assaulted, and chased away. This duplicity, mourning in public, silencing in private—echoes the broader playbook used by Pakistan: deny, distract, deflect. For decades, Pakistan’s military intelligence (ISI) has funded, trained, and protected groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed. In case of Pahalgam, the role of Musa, a former Pakistani army commando, is of growing interest. Intelligence sources suggest Musa may have crossed over to direct operations or provide tactical training. Yet, his name is barely mentioned in international reports, a telling sign of selective attention. The UN’s refusal to name TRF or Lashkar-e-Taiba, despite overwhelming evidence and the group’s own admission, underscores a deeper rot. If the world’s premier multilateral body cannot call out named terrorists already on their own sanctions list, it sends a message: Islamist terror enjoys immunity when it wears the right diplomatic camouflage. This soft-pedaling emboldens not only the perpetrators but their state sponsors. It reduces global counterterrorism to a performative charade. And this is not an Indian problem alone. It is a global crisis. Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al-Shabaab in Kenya, ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Taliban in Afghanistan, and Pakistani-backed groups in South Asia have all deployed religious tests as tools of mass murder. Victims are asked to recite the Quran or Kalma. If they can’t, they are executed. From Christians in Sri Lanka to Yazidis in Sinjar, from Jews in Israel to Hindus in Bangladesh and Bharat, Islamist terror follows a consistent playbook: identify the non-believer, isolate them, and eliminate them. The deeper tragedy is that much of the world still treats Islamist terror as a regional irritant rather than a global ideological threat. When white supremacists commit attacks, global condemnation is swift and names are named. When Islamist terrorists do the same, often with greater frequency and casualties, responses are diluted, obfuscated, or simply censored. The idea that naming the ideology behind terror would offend communities is both condescending and dangerous. It equates faith with fanaticism, and worse, it gives cover to ideological murderers. We must confront a hard truth: the silence of global institutions, the equivocation of Western governments, and the duplicity of UN bodies like

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Pahalgam Attack: Hypocrisy, Silence, and Truth
Hindus Kashmir Pakistan Security Terrorism
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Pahalgam Attack: Hypocrisy, Silence, and Truth

Rohan Giri On April 22, 2025, tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, bore witness to an atrocity that defies human conscience. In a brutal terrorist attack orchestrated by Pakistan-backed terrorist groups, 26 Hindu tourists were singled out based on their faith and mercilessly executed. Their only ‘crime’ was being Hindu. Global media outlets rushed to distort the truth rather than mourning the victims or condemning the clear religious hatred behind the massacre. Reuters, BBC, New York Times, Al Jazeera, CNN, and others showcased once again the alarming moral bankruptcy within sections of international journalism deliberately downplaying religious targeting, sanitizing terrorists as “militants,” and portraying the blood-soaked valley through the lens of “Indian-administered Kashmir,” thus questioning India’s very sovereignty. This selective empathy, this sanitized barbarism, this intellectual dishonesty stands exposed. Pahalgam attack was not an isolated incident. It was the continuation of an ideological war against India’s civilizational essence. Pakistan’s military leadership has been candid about this. At the passing-out parade on April 16, 2025, at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir brazenly declared: “The two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one. Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life, religion, customs, traditions, thinking, and aspirations.” This ideological rigidity the very cancer that partitioned the Indian subcontinent continues to fuel terrorism, hatred, and separatism even today. Munir’s public reaffirmation of the two-nation theory is not just a historical reference; it is an active justification for ongoing violence in Kashmir. In parallel, at a rally organized by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Rawalkot on April 18, 2025,  to pay tribute to two terrorists, Akif Haleem and Abdul Wahab, JKUM/LeT commander Abu Musa threatened openly: “Jihad will continue, guns will rage, and beheading will continue in Kashmir. India wants to change the demography of Kashmir by giving domicile certificates to non-locals, and we will not let this happen.” Such public incitements to murder, terrorism, and ethnic cleansing are treated by Western media either as footnotes or are conveniently omitted altogether. The narrative of “demographic change” itself is a cruel inversion of reality.  The so-called “domicile certificates” that the Government of India grants are not tools of colonization, but instruments of justice, meant to reintegrate indigenous Hindu communities Kashmir is not a no-man’s land. It is the ancient land of Kashyap Rishi, one of the holiest sites of the Indic civilization. Restoration of native communities into their rightful homeland is a moral imperative, not an act of aggression. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) issued a scathing critique of international media complicity.  In a powerful statement, HAF’s Executive Director summarized the media betrayal: “On April 22, 2025, the worst civilian terror attack in Kashmir since 2008 unfolded. 26 Hindu tourists were executed. Yet if you look at headlines from New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Reuters, and AP you wouldn’t even know Hindus were targeted.  They downplay terrorism. Sanitize it. Hide the victims’ religious identities. Call terrorists ‘militants.’ This isn’t just tragic storytelling, it’s deliberate erasure.” This is not a mere reporting error. It is a systemic ideological bias that minimizes Hindu suffering and perpetuates anti-India stereotypes under the garb of neutrality. Terms like “Indian-administered Kashmir,” “militants,” and “tensions” dilute the reality of Pakistan-sponsored jihadist terror and instead, subtly vilify the Indian state. Would any Western media outlet ever call ISIS terrorists “militants”? Would they ever describe 9/11 attackers as “gunmen”?  Why then, when Hindu civilians are massacred, do standards suddenly change? The answer lies in a toxic cocktail of post-colonial condescension, ideological ignorance, and sheer intellectual dishonesty. This time, however, the narrative war met fierce resistance.  The global Indian diaspora an economic, academic, and cultural powerhouse rose in unprecedented solidarity. From Federation Square in Melbourne to Pakistan High Commission in London, from Copenhagen to Kathmandu, from Paris to Zurich to Helsinki, and across North America from Brampton to New York, Indians staged massive protests demanding justice for the victims. In Frankfurt, more than 300 Indian community members gathered at Central Railway Station, marching to Dom Romer, holding placards, chanting slogans against terrorism, and sending a strong message to the global conscience: Truth will not be silenced. This global mobilization was not spontaneous rage it was righteous anger forged over decades of media erasure, diplomatic duplicity, and institutional gaslighting. Indian expatriates—scientists, CEOs, artists, and teachers have realized that silence only emboldens lies.  From Zurich to Auckland, their unified cry reverberated: Stop justifying terror. Stop dehumanizing Hindu victims. Kashmir must be understood not as a “disputed territory” between two states but as a living civilizational landscape. It is a land where Adi Shankaracharya revived Sanatana Dharma atop the Shankaracharya Hill, where Shaivism blossomed into philosophical sophistication, where Sufi saints preached syncretism. It is not a medieval battleground between empires but an eternal testimony to India’s pluralistic ethos. The terror attacks and false narratives seek to destroy this rich civilizational memory. And that is precisely why India’s actions to secure, stabilize, and culturally revive Jammu and Kashmir are not just acts of national policy but acts of civilizational preservation. Every attempt to portray Jammu and Kashmir as “disputed,” every attempt to vilify the domiciles, is an assault on truth itself. Domicile for those historically belonging to Kashmir is not “changing demography” it is correcting injustice. Pakistan’s rhetoric about demography rings hollow in contrast to its own colonization of Gilgit-Baltistan, its demographic suppression of Balochistan, and its apartheid-like persecution of minorities. It’s time the world recognises this double standard. It is time for India to call out, with measured but firm diplomacy, the duplicity of global actors. Global Indian community’s anger is righteous. It is not the anger of vengeance, but of justice denied, victims forgotten, and narratives hijacked. The world ignored exodus in 1990 when Hindus were driven out in hundreds of thousands from their homes, Wandhama Massacre, Sikh Massacre in Chattisinghpora to name a few. It must not ignore Pahalgam 2025. History will not be kind

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Brief on Baisaran Terrorist Attack – April 22, 2025

At approximately 2:30 PM on April 22, 2025, a group of terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on tourists at Baisaran meadow, some 6 km from the tourist town of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir. The Pakistan backed islamist terrorists exploited dense forest bordering the meadow to launch a deadly ambush on innocent tourists enjoying pony rides and foot tours of the so called ”Mini-Switzerland” claiming more than 26 lives and injuring 17 others. Our brief explains the deadly terrorist attack.

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Balochi Struggle Hits a Milestone!
Human Rights Pakistan Terrorism
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Balochi Struggle Hits a Milestone!

Balochi fighters under BRAS with centralized military command pose significant challenges to both Pakistan, China. Rohan Giri & Dr. Shailendra Pathak Given continued rejection of their rights, how long can one ignore Balochis’ call for justice? Balochistan has a long history of identity crisis and struggle for Balochis’ rights that are closely entwined. For decades in continuum, Balochi population suffered political marginalization, financial difficulties and cruel suppression of their dreams. Evolving Balochi resistance marks a significant shift in this long-lasting conflict, potentially influencing the region’s political dynamics and bringing the ongoing suffering to the forefront of global attention. An alliance of Baloch fighters, Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) has revealed a major re-organisation, bringing several factions under one centralized military command. This stage marks an ideological unity of all forces not limited to just military plan of action. BRAS have plans for strengthening its position in response to challenges in the area by moving from broken guerrilla tactics to methodical and coordinated armed operation. A thorough and orderly military force produced by this reorganisation would provide the foundation for a “Baloch National Army.” Under a common strategic framework, this reform seeks to unite leaders and activists from all factions, thereby strengthening a more powerful and long-lasting resistance. Immediate consequences of this re-organization are severe. For Pakistan, it presents a protracted and strong opposition with significant challenges in implementing its military and economic agenda. For instance, stability is essential to China’s investments in forced occupation area under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). On the parallel, BRAS declaration raises questions on security of CPEC projects. Regrouping of Balochi fighters, highlights a battle, often overlooked, that significantly impacts regional stability. The conflict in itself is shaped by long history of disputed sovereignty and political unrest. Balochistan which comprises four former princely states of Kharan, Makaran, Las Bela and Kalat was declared an independent state along with India and Pakistan. During partition, princely kingdoms had the freedom to remain independent, join India or align with Pakistan. Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmed Yar Khan chose to be independent while three others chose to be with Pakistan. Pakistan objected to this proclamation, nevertheless, which set off several forceful policies. By unilaterally declaring accession of Kharan, Makaran and Las Bela in March 1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah isolated Kalat and drove its ultimate integration into Islamic Republic of Pakistan. With political persecution, economic marginalization and breaches of human rights defining Balochi struggle, this controversial union set the stage for fresh challenges. Balochistan boasts of immense natural resources while its people live in extreme poverty. Pakistan’s businesses have been powered for decades by the Sui gas field of Dera Bugti. But, unfortunately most Baloch houses still cook on woodfire. Reko Diq mines in Chagai district have large copper and gold deposits, but only international companies and Islamabad gain from them leaving Balochi people impoverished. Balochistan’s enforced economic structure has long been a cause of conflict since failures in equitable distribution of resources. BRAS seek to highlight its struggles against what it regards as economic marginalization. The effort includes halting highways, targeting infrastructure associated with CPEC and advocating for Balochi sovereignty over resources. Linked with long-standing demand for nondiscriminatory development, the revolt now has an economic aspect in addition to a fight for political acceptance. Under BRAS, establishment of a Baloch armed force could offer a mechanism for strategic action that has the potential for tipping the regional power balance. Immediately after BRAS declared its restructuring, Balochi fighters burst into a breathtaking display of force. A significant ally in BRAS, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked Jaffar Express train in Balochistan on March 11, 2025 carrying about 500 people. In a shootout, Baloch fighters killed at least 20 persons and kidnapped about 182 allegedly military and police personnel, blowing up the tracks. The BLA had issued an ultimatum threatening to execute hostages if their demands were unfulfilled. Pakistani government backed by Chinese powers that be responded with military action, resulting in continued confrontations. Hijacking the Jaffar Express was seen as direct reaction to official persecution and forced disappearances which had destroyed Baloch towns over decades. The Jaffar Express hijacking proved BRAS capacity for large-scale, well-coordinated operations and flashed a considerable rise in opposition activity. Balochistan still struggles with major human rights abuses and forced disappearances top the list of concerns. Human rights groups say thousands of Balochi men, students, activists and political workers have vanished over time. Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) reported that in February 2025, they recorded 144 cases of forced disappearances. Out of these, one person was reported dead, 102 remained untraced and 41 have come back. On top of that, 46 people lost their lives including some who were killed without a fair trial. They’ve identified 40 of these victims but six remain unknown. There is a substantial human cost associated with these disappearances. Families march thousands of kilometres in search of missing near and dear ones, carry images of their lost loved ones. Though demand for responsibility and openness is growing, international community’s intervention in yet to gain momentum. On the other hand, BRAS has continued with its struggle for rights and respect. Balochistan’s battle is not a lonely endeavour. It is entwined with regional and global issues. Seeing Baloch nationalism as a constant security issue, Pakistan has deployed strong militarism and intelligence operations to limit the uprising. Balochistan is seen by China as a component of its larger strategic objective with projects like Gwadar Port through its Belt and Road Initiative having enormous financial value. Nonetheless, BRAS’s most recent activities suggest a continuous risk to regional stability. BRAS have time and again expressed concerns about foreign investments that do not benefit local communities. If the alliance increases frequency of disruptions to CPEC projects, there could be more security issues. China has asked Islamabad to ensure protection of its interests in the wake of infrastructure attacks. The evolving conditions present a challenging chore for all relevant stakeholders. Grave situation in Balochistan receives very little international

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Demolishing the Dawn’s Deception
Disinformation Media Misinformation News Pakistan
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Demolishing Dawn’s Deception

Rohan Giri Dawn.com, the Pakistani news outlet that hosts Naqvi’s fabrications, has a long history of anti-Indian prejudice, regularly publishing articles that undermine Indian sovereignty and national interests. While it claims to support democracy, it rarely, if ever, scrutinizes Pakistan’s establishment with the same zeal as it does India. The hypocrisy is apparent. It is a journal that thrives on manufactured frustration with India while deliberately avoiding the dictatorial reality of its country. Jawed Naqvi’s most recent piece in The Dawn, “India’s left-right centenary,” is another example of selective indignation and intellectual dishonesty. It is deliberately written to support the myth that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the face of fascism in India. In his distinctive manner, Naqvi weaves together hypocritical historical allusions, ideological prejudices, and plain lies to create a story that has been disproven time and time again but is still promoted by those who are unwilling to confront except facts. In addition to criticizing RSS, his piece highlights the larger intellectual squalor that plagues segments of the Indian left and its supporters abroad. Exposing his distortions is not only necessary but also morally required since, if allowed unchecked, lying takes on the appearance of reality. Naqvi’s argument’s basic tenet is a sloppy and false analogy between RSS and European fascism. It reveals a basic misinterpretation—possibly deliberate—of fascism as well as the intellectual and historical foundations of RSS. RSS has never aspired to be an authoritarian entity, in contrast to Hitler’s racial superiority or Mussolini’s corporatist state. It continued to be a sociocultural movement dedicated to self-reliance, national cohesion, and a continuation of civilization. The alleged similarities to European fascism are merely rhetorical instruments employed by people who wish to discredit the movement without actually participating in its activities. The irrationality of this accusation is further demonstrated by the fact that RSS has never supported racial supremacy, a one-party system, or a dictatorship—all of which are fundamental elements of fascism. Decentralization of authority, community-driven governance, and cultural revival—values that are directly in conflict with the core of fascist ideology—have, if anything, always been at the heart of RSS’s priorities. Naqvi’s assertion that Hitler and Mussolini were the inspiration for RSS is a well-worn fallacy that has been repeatedly disproved but is still brought up by individuals with political frustrations. The accusations are the result of selectively misinterpreting words made by specific people while disregarding the broader context. Distorting historical facts to suit a convenient political narrative is the height of intellectual dishonesty. Unlike the Communist parties, which notoriously followed the Soviet line even at the expense of national interests, the RSS has no history of working with colonial or imperialist regimes. In 1942, the Communists fiercely opposed the Quit India Movement, calling it “subversive,” at the direction of their bosses in Beijing and Moscow. They weakened the quest for independence, whereas RSS struggled diligently at the grassroots level to foster cultural awareness and a sense of pride in the country. If the study of treachery is the goal, then the Communist parties—not RSS—need to be examined. Communists teaching about nationalism is blatantly ironic. Communists were involved in violent uprisings, such as the Telangana Rebellion, which aimed to impose a Soviet-style revolution in India, while the RSS was working to unite the nation. Naqvi romanticizes this uprising as a noble peasant battle, but in reality, it was a violent and terrifying war. Under the guise of “revolution,” the Communist objective has always been to sow disarray, erode democratic institutions, and open the door for authoritarian control. It should come as no surprise that democracy has always suffered the most when Communists have taken control, whether in North Korea, the USSR, or Maoist China. The people’s rejection of their outdated, foreign-imposed ideology is what is causing their electoral downfall in India, not any alleged “fascist” repression. Naqvi’s attempts to demonize the RSS and cover up the wrongdoings of Indian Communists are blatant examples of selective amnesia. The CPI’s record is marked by obvious blemishes, including its ideological subservience to foreign powers, its unwillingness to support the 1962 war effort against China, and its vacillations on important national challenges. On the other hand, RSS has supported Indian army in needs, increased disaster relief, and supported national defense. These are not theoretical claims; they are demonstrable realities. Naqvi, however, avoids them out of convenience since they contradict his rhetoric. It is a flagrant fabrication to say that RSS and its inspired individuals were “apologists for colonialism.” The Communist leadership frequently undermined nationalist initiatives and remained ambivalent about India’s independence. While RSS karyakartas were actively involved in opposing British rule. The goal of the RSS was to create a robust, independent society that could fend off colonial domination on all fronts—politically, culturally, and economically. The Communist concern with quick and frequently violent upheavals was always in conflict with these long-term objectives. If we look at Jawed Naqvi explicitly, his history of anti-Hindu and anti-Indian hatred is well known. His publications frequently echo the talking points of Pakistan’s official narratives, raising doubts about his integrity, ethics and journalism. His previous pieces, such as “Hindutva Terrorism: Another View” and “The Crooked Timber of Modi’s India,” all follow the same formula: they show Muslims as unforgiving victims, Hindus as aggressors, and India as a country on the verge of collapse. The outrage is blatantly selective. He highlights every perceived or actual weakness in India’s democracy, but he says nothing about Pakistan’s deep state, its persecution of minorities, or its decline into political and economic catastrophe. Naqvi’s most recent article is not a rare occurrence; rather, it is a component of a larger trend—a network of authors and journals that want to discredit India’s revival of civilization by calling it “fascist.” A typical example of projection is this one. Extremist Islamism and Communism, I call that Islamo-leftist, the exact ideologies Naqvi espouses, have committed some of the most horrific crimes in recorded history. More than 100 million people have died as a result of communism worldwide, and extremist Islamist beliefs have sunk entire

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