New Delhi: For India, the portrayal of Afghanistan as a terrorist haven is particularly alarming.
Reports from Kabul-based official sources indicate that the Pakistani military and its intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are conducting a disinformation campaign to depict Afghanistan as a sanctuary for terrorist groups. This initiative seems designed to undermine Afghanistan’s relationships with neighbouring countries, particularly India and Iran.
Officials say that the implications of this propaganda extend beyond mere rhetoric, posing real risks to diplomatic relations and regional stability. According to these sources, the ISI has been actively promoting narratives that suggest the Taliban government in Afghanistan is facilitating the operations of various terrorist organizations.
One of the said reports seen by The Sunday Guardian, prepared by official sources, shows how certain prominent social media handles claim that Afghanistan is becoming a hub for groups like Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
By disseminating this information through specific social media accounts and propaganda outlets, Kabul based sources said, the ISI aims to shift the perception of Afghanistan in the eyes of its neighbours and the international community. Details of multiple social media accounts linked to these efforts, made available to The Sunday Guardian, show how these widely followed accounts generate content that is passed off as fact but is, in reality, propaganda aimed at furthering Pakistan’s military interests while targeting India and Afghanistan.
While the ISI and the public relations wing of the Pakistan military, the ISPR, have not officially claimed these accounts, their operations suggest a coordinated attempt to tarnish Afghanistan’s image. This ongoing disinformation campaign seeks not only to damage Afghanistan’s diplomatic ties but also to foster mistrust between Afghanistan and its neighbours.
One particular incident highlighted by Afghan officials involves a fake video that surfaced about a month ago, allegedly featuring Afghanistan’s intelligence chief for Herat province. In this video, the individual falsely accuses India of facilitating attacks on Ismail Haniyah, a Hamas leader, claiming that India used its embassy in Tehran to assist Israel in targeting him. The purported intelligence chief calls for severing ties with India, allegedly acting on directives from Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. However, this assertion has been categorically denied by the actual intelligence chief, who attributed the video to an ISI-led initiative to damage Afghanistan’s relations with India.
As per another analysis report shared with The Sunday Guardian, the accounts involved in this campaign often masquerade as OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) investigators and members of a think tank to gain traction and spread their narratives more widely.
Sources indicate that these steps are being taken by Islamabad and its partner countries to potentially escalate tensions in an already complex region.
For India, the portrayal of Afghanistan as a terrorist haven is particularly alarming, as it could justify hostile actions or interventions aimed at countering perceived threats. It also risks pushing Afghanistan closer to Pakistan, which could have long-term repercussions for the geopolitical landscape. Officials say that the implications of such a disinformation campaign extend beyond Afghanistan-India relations.
Iran, which shares a border with Afghanistan, is also affected by these narratives. This may provoke a response from Iran that could further destabilize the region. Iranian officials have been wary of the Taliban’s governance, particularly regarding security and the treatment of ethnic minorities. If Iran perceives a growing threat from Afghanistan due to these propaganda efforts, it may recalibrate its approach to engagement with Kabul, potentially exacerbating tensions.