Islamabad: A report has raised serious concerns over India’s state-backed cyber propaganda, stating that New Delhi is using its government-controlled media platforms to promote narratives that undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty and amplify the messaging of banned terrorist groups. The report specifically cites the role of the state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) and its verified social media account in disseminating such content.
According to Global Mirror, evidence cited in the report states that AIR operates as part of Prasar Bharati under the direct oversight of the Indian government. Its social media operations, including the @airnewsalerts handle, are managed by a dedicated Social Media Cell established in 2013 to disseminate official narratives, making any content posted attributable to the Indian state rather than independent journalism.
The report says that the @airnewsalerts handle has repeatedly amplified the activities of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a manner portraying the group as “freedom fighters” rather than a designated terrorist organization. It cites an example from January 31, 2026, when AIR reported the BLA’s announcement of the “second phase of Operation Herof” as a “declaration of decisive resistance” against an “occupying state,” language the report says frames terrorist attacks as heroic acts of liberation. This language, the report said, validates BLA’s intent and agenda, echoing separatist propaganda.
The report further says that similar posts highlight BLA claims of coordinated attacks across Balochistan without condemnation and often alongside allegations of Pakistani “atrocities,” which it says builds sympathy for the terrorist group. It further states that AIR’s coverage consistently focuses on alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces while highlighting protests by groups such as the Free Balochistan Movement and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee as demands for “justice,” providing what the report terms a cyber propaganda platform for violent non-state actors like the BLA.
According to Global Mirror, evidence cited in the report states that AIR operates as part of Prasar Bharati under the direct oversight of the Indian government. Its social media operations, including the @airnewsalerts handle, are managed by a dedicated Social Media Cell established in 2013 to disseminate official narratives, making any content posted attributable to the Indian state rather than independent journalism.
The report says that the @airnewsalerts handle has repeatedly amplified the activities of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a manner portraying the group as “freedom fighters” rather than a designated terrorist organization. It cites an example from January 31, 2026, when AIR reported the BLA’s announcement of the “second phase of Operation Herof” as a “declaration of decisive resistance” against an “occupying state,” language the report says frames terrorist attacks as heroic acts of liberation. This language, the report said, validates BLA’s intent and agenda, echoing separatist propaganda.
The report further says that similar posts highlight BLA claims of coordinated attacks across Balochistan without condemnation and often alongside allegations of Pakistani “atrocities,” which it says builds sympathy for the terrorist group. It further states that AIR’s coverage consistently focuses on alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces while highlighting protests by groups such as the Free Balochistan Movement and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee as demands for “justice,” providing what the report terms a cyber propaganda platform for violent non-state actors like the BLA.