Pakistan Denies Reports Its Territory Used for Attacks on Iran, Labels Claims ‘Disinformation’

Pakistan’s Information Ministry Warns Against Sharing False Military News on Social Media

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an urgent advisory cautioning social media users against sharing unverified “breaking news” about military actions, particularly fabricated reports claiming the United States is using Pakistan as a staging ground for strikes against Iran.

The ministry’s official fact-check account on X (formerly Twitter) detailed how propaganda pages operated from Afghanistan and India have been circulating false information designed to entangle Pakistan in regional conflicts. The disinformation campaign alleged that U.S. aerial refueling aircraft (KC-135R) and surveillance aircraft had been deployed to Pakistan in preparation for military operations against Iran.

“The claim that US aircraft arrived in Pakistan for strikes on Iran is purely disinformation,” the ministry stated, labeling these reports as part of a “reckless, blame-shifting narrative” intended to implicate Pakistan in the U.S.-Iran tensions without supporting evidence.

To counter these claims, the ministry cited credible reporting from Reuters confirming that while the U.S. had indeed moved refueling aircraft to Europe amid escalating Middle East tensions, these movements had no connection to Pakistan. The ministry emphasized that no credible evidence exists showing U.S. aircraft or intelligence assets based in Pakistan or conducting operational flights from Pakistani territory toward Iran.

The propaganda campaign primarily originated from accounts with apparent links to Afghan and Indian sources, including handles such as @KHoorasanM_U1, @RealBababanaras, and @AFGDefense. These accounts falsely suggested unusual flight patterns toward Iranian airspace and claimed Pakistan was serving as a launch corridor for U.S. stealth fighters.

The ministry urged citizens to exercise caution when consuming military news online and to verify information through reliable channels before sharing. For matters concerning national security and defense, the public was advised to rely exclusively on official sources, including the Inter-Services Public Relations, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and established defense media outlets.

The advisory comes amid heightened regional tensions and underscores the Pakistani government’s efforts to combat misinformation that could potentially strain diplomatic relations or create unnecessary panic among the public.

In a related development, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar addressed the Qaumi Paigham-e-Amman Committee conference in Islamabad, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating terrorism and preventing extremist narratives from taking hold in the country.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the nation stands united and resolute against terrorism,” Tarar stated, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. He outlined a comprehensive approach involving both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to counter terrorist threats.

Tarar highlighted the establishment of the National Paigham-e-Amman Committee secretariat, which includes representation from minority communities. The committee aims to promote peace and counter terrorist propaganda by visiting different regions of Pakistan to spread Islam’s message of harmony.

The minister specifically called attention to foreign-backed extremist organizations, including what he termed “Fitna-al-Hindustan” and “Fitna-al-Khawarij,” which he said were receiving international funding to destabilize Pakistan. He emphasized the consensus across the Muslim world that no jihad could be waged against the Pakistani state.

These developments reflect Pakistan’s ongoing challenges in navigating complex regional dynamics while combating both physical terrorism and information warfare that threatens to misrepresent the country’s position in international conflicts.