From Pulwama to Bondi: How India Weaponizes Misinformation Against Pakistan

From Pulwama to Bondi:  How India Weaponizes Misinformation Against Pakistan

India has a long and well-documented record of exploiting terror incidents, information vacuums and moments of human tragedy to push propaganda and disinformation against Pakistan. This is not a new phenomenon. Over the last decade, many incidents have shown a consistent pattern: from Pulwama to Pathankot, Uri to Pahalgam, terror attacks and human tragedies are used to create a narrative before investigations are complete.


Blame is assigned too early, facts are selectively presented and misinformation is multiplied through domestic and international networks. These campaigns are not random errors but are carefully coordinated attempts to shape perception, alter attention and malign Pakistan in the world discourse. Have you noticed the same tactics being used repeatedly?


By Mehr_Dua

The same mechanisms, coordinated media outlets, social media amplification, recycled visuals, emotional storytelling, have been documented time and again by investigative journalists and research organizations such as EU DisinfoLab. What was once largely a regional strategy is now being extended beyond the South Asia region, adapting to new contexts and audiences. The Sydney Bondi Beach shooting is a striking example of this evolution. It shows how the same playbook can be applied to a tragedy on Australian soil.


The Bondi attack, which killed 15 people and injured 42 others, should have been treated as a domestic tragedy that needed careful reporting and verification. But what happened instead? Almost immediately, Indian, Afghan and Israeli-linked media platforms framed the event within a familiar narrative: Pakistan-linked perpetrators. Before any of the details had been confirmed by Australian authorities, manipulated visuals, unverified social media posts and speculative commentary were being released, presenting false claims as fact. Does this sound familiar?


It mirrors the tactics employed in previous campaigns in India: rapid creation of the narrative, selective disclosure of information and repeated circulation to make unverified claims seem credible. In both the South Asian incidents and the Sydney case, speed and emotional resonance mattered more than accuracy.


One piece of misinformation from Sydney stands out: the fictitious hero narrative. According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), one entirely fabricated story picked out "Edward Crabtree" as the man who disarmed one of the attackers. A detailed but fictional biography was transmitted widely on social media.


Meanwhile, the real hero, Sutherland Shire father Ahmed Al Ahmed, who was shot twice while attempting to stop the gunmen, was effectively written out of the story. Can you see the pattern here? The construction of a useful, imaginary hero is part of the narrative engineering used in earlier Indian disinformation campaigns, where facts are reshaped to serve political or ideological purposes.


Even before official confirmation, the perpetrators, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, were identified with Pakistan by various media sources. This is reminiscent of past cases, isn’t it? People or incidents were hastily ascribed to Pakistan, regardless of evidence.


Experts quoted by the AFR, such as Dr Anne Kruger from the University of Queensland and Nathan Ruser of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, explained why these narratives spread so quickly. Low-quality information fills the void when verified facts are in short supply and believable claims travel faster than the truth. Essentially, the strategy does not rely on accuracy, it relies on creating perceptions that stick.


The disinformation had very real consequences. A Pakistan-origin man living in Sydney, also called Naveed Akram, became the target of online abuse after his photograph, taken from his Facebook profile, was falsely circulated as one of the attackers. He received death threats, could not leave his home safely and his family in Punjab was harassed. The psychological and security impact mirrors previous disinformation campaigns in South Asia, where misattributed identities and false claims have endangered innocent lives.


To defend himself, he had to publicly deny any connection, with the Pakistan Consulate in Sydney releasing a video statement explaining his innocence. Australia’s SBS News also reported his account, confirming he had no connection to the attack. Imagine living through such a scenario, what would you do?


Australian authorities stepped in to clarify the facts. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, later converted to a partner visa and that Naveed Akram was an Australian citizen born in 2001. These verified facts debunked the baseless claims linking the attack to Pakistan. Yet, as in regional campaigns in India, the first false story had already spread and continued to circulate. Analysts observed that Indian and Israeli-linked media selectively edited eyewitness accounts, distorted statements and misrepresented identities to perpetuate the narrative.


Even high-ranking political figures were affected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially repeated false claims, wrongly identifying a Jewish bystander as the hero. This underscores a key similarity with past incidents in South Asia: misinformation is engineered to spread quickly and reach influential audiences, amplifying its impact before corrections can take hold. The Sydney incident demonstrates that India’s disinformation machinery now operates globally, exploiting international tragedies with the same tools and methods previously applied in South Asia.


What makes the Bondi case particularly troubling is how closely it mirrors known patterns of disinformation. EU DisinfoLab and investigative journalists have exposed networks of coordinated media outlets, bot-fuelled amplification and recycled content used in prior campaigns to malign Pakistan. In Sydney, these strategies appeared again: coordinated messaging, selective presentation of information and emotionally compelling but false narratives. The attack became more than a tragedy, it became a weapon in the war of narrative, where facts were secondary and speed of dissemination was decisive.


Eventually, investigative reporting and official clarifications corrected the record. Ahmed Al Ahmed’s bravery was recognized, the falsely accused Naveed Akram proved his innocence and Australian authorities clarified the legal and factual record. But the initial wave of disinformation had already caused fear, damaged reputations and undermined trust. Sound familiar? Similar patterns in South Asia show how misinformation campaigns can leave long-lasting impressions, even after corrections are issued.


The Sydney case highlights a sobering truth about India’s disinformation strategies: they are deliberate, strategic and increasingly global. Repetition, emotional manipulation and digital amplification are central to their success. Tragedy is weaponized and the first narrative often prevails. Without accountability, such campaigns will continue to exploit both regional and international events to create perceptions against Pakistan.


The lesson from Sydney, and from years of incidents in South Asia, is clear. Media organizations must verify before publishing, platforms must act quickly and political leaders must resist the urge to speak before they know. Truth may arrive late, but armed with facts, names and evidence, it can still win the battle against falsehoods. Recognizing and analyzing these patterns is essential to protect both innocent lives and the integrity of public discourse.

 

The author is the head of the research and human rights department of Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR). She can be contacted at the following email address: mehr_dua@yahoo.com, X @MHHRsays

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