ISLAMABAD, Oct 03 (APP):The appearance of retired Pakistani soldier Mohammad Asif, whom Indian authorities and media had identified as a militant killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), raised questions about the accuracy of the account, said former AJK president and ex-Pakistan ambassador Sardar Masood Khan, after the Pakistan military presented Asif alive on October 1. In a statement issued here, Khan said the episode demonstrated the dangers …
Unverified allegations expose India’s narrative: Masood Khan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 03 (APP):The appearance of retired Pakistani soldier Mohammad Asif, whom Indian authorities and media had identified as a militant killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), raised questions about the accuracy of the account, said former AJK president and ex-Pakistan ambassador Sardar Masood Khan, after the Pakistan military presented Asif alive on October 1.
In a statement issued here, Khan said the episode demonstrated the dangers of releasing and amplifying security-related claims without adequate verification and argued that information associated with sensitive incidents should be independently checked before being disseminated, particularly when such claims can have implications for relations between India and Pakistan.
He said journalists and media organizations have a responsibility to establish the veracity of information, including information attributed to government or military authorities.
He emphasized that claims should be cross-checked through multiple sources and, where facts remain uncertain, the existence of doubt should be clearly acknowledged.
Sardar Masood Khan described the incident as part of what he characterized as a broader pattern of information warfare and narrative-building directed against Pakistan. He referred to previous episodes, including Pulwama, Uri and Pahalgam, and argued that allegations involving Pakistan should be supported by verifiable evidence rather than amplified before the facts are established.
He also referred to reports and research concerning coordinated information campaigns against Pakistan, including the findings attributed to EU DisinfoLab in 2020 regarding networks of websites and media outlets. He said such activities had sought, in his view, to damage Pakistan’s international reputation and undermine its advocacy concerning the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Sardar Masood Khan said the timing of the latest episode was significant, given Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement at the United Nations General Assembly. He said Pakistan had been actively engaged in international diplomacy and that attempts to damage its international standing through unverified narratives could have wider regional consequences.
He said the international community should encourage both countries to rely on evidence, established investigative procedures and responsible communication. He stressed that allegations of terrorism or cross-border involvement should be presented with credible evidence and examined through appropriate mechanisms.
