By Aqeel Yousafzai
India, Afghanistan, and two other key nations’ media outlets are relentlessly fueling anti-Pakistan propaganda. Internally, a specific political party and certain extremist groups are amplifying anti-state narratives. Interestingly, these entities share common themes in their rhetoric.
First, they perpetuate the idea that Pakistan is on the brink of disintegration or should be dismantled. Second, they claim that Pakistan’s nuclear assets are unsafe, posing a threat to global peace and potentially being transferred due to Pakistan’s economic woes. Third, they promote the narrative that Pashtuns and Balochs are spearheading secessionist movements. Finally, they highlight alleged inhumane treatment of Imran Khan and his party.
While the motivations and factors behind this multi-pronged and systematic propaganda vary, the bitter reality is that Pakistan’s government and its relevant institutions have failed to counter these narratives effectively. They have been unable to present the true picture, not only to the global audience but even domestically. Additionally, the government has faced immense failures in managing a specific political party.
Despite persistent propaganda, Pakistan witnessed significant improvements in various sectors in 2024, thanks to collective efforts by state institutions. However, the federal government, led by the PML-N, has failed to defend the country’s position on these fronts. Its inability to promote and articulate state successes is glaring. Even state-run media outlets remain underutilized. The government seems fixated on the events of May 9, revolving around a specific party, reflecting an unexplained fear—even though the political cards of that party have nearly been exhausted.
The ongoing campaign to label Pakistan a failed state demands urgent and decisive political and governmental action. This campaign is not merely driven by global powers but is also backed by millions of dollars spent on so-called social media campaigns.
Unfortunately, instead of addressing this crisis, state institutions remain embroiled in political point-scoring and irrelevant issues. Their repeated failures to counter fake news and propaganda are deeply concerning and necessitate immediate accountability and strategic overhauls to safeguard Pakistan’s image and security.