A story published in India Today and several other Indian news websites claimed on Monday that the Intelligence Bureau had issued a security alert that foreigners visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy could be kidnapped. However, the claim has no basis in reality.
Security officials told Khabar Kada on the condition of anonymity that no such alert has been issued by IB.
The official added that strict security arrangements have been made for the visiting teams. The teams are being given the same level of security as foreign heads of state.
Matches in the Rawalpindi leg of the Champions Trophy began from Monday. A total of 5,800 policemen are on security duty dedicated to event supported by 900 safe city cameras and 202 body worn cameras. Drone cameras are also assisting the security teams.
Indian media had claimed that IB’s advisory had outlined a threat by Islamic State Khorasan Province against foreigners and its operatives are conducting surveillance operations.
Indian media has also used photographs linking the ISKP to cricket related threats. However, the images are actually from an ISKP publication that dates back to June 2024.
Uzair Tufail, a cricket fan, while speaking to Khabar Kada, said, “It is so unfortunate that the gentlemen’s game is targeted by the Indian media through information warfare for the sake of politics. First the Indian Team was not allowed to travel to Pakistan and now a blatant attempt to sabotage the tournament through a fake threat alert which raises serious questions on the journalistic ethics of Indian media as well as the absurdity of such gimmicks.”
In 2021, New Zealand had called off its cricket team’s tour to Pakistan after propaganda by India through a story in the Sunday Guardian about threats being emailed to the team’s management. It was New Zealand’s first tour to Pakistan in 18 years but the team cancelled it minutes before the first match based on unspecified threats.
The threats were later found to be emailed from India, according to then Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. A fake account in the name of former Tehreek-e-Taliban spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan had also been used to fan the propaganda. The Sunday Guardian article, written by Abhinandan Mishra, had then spread the propaganda further.
The reports of Indian efforts of disinformation across the globe are already well documented. Amongst others, EU DisinfoLab revealed that the largest disinformation network in the world is being run from India.
