New Delhi, October 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
More than 5,000 social media accounts have reportedly been created in Pakistan over the past two weeks as part of an alleged campaign to spread misinformation, malign Indian security forces and the Union government, and incite violence amid protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, according to intelligence officials.
An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official said the sudden surge in suspicious accounts was linked to the ongoing anti-SIR protests, with posts circulating unverified claims about police firing, lathi charges and the use of tear gas against demonstrators.
“The intention is to provoke the youth and push them towards violence,” the official said, warning that clashes could prompt police action and trigger further unrest in other parts of the country.
Investigators believe the accounts are being operated by a mix of Indian and Pakistani users. Officials said the alleged involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) reflects a shift from earlier methods, when fake accounts and misleading content were reportedly generated through hubs concentrated in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The latest activity has allegedly been traced to multiple locations, including Bhimber, Rawalakot, Tarakhal, Sialkot, Kolti, Mendhar and Peshawar. According to officials, individuals in these areas are recruited to create accounts and circulate specific content, including by tagging users abroad to widen its reach.
Officials said the alleged operation also exploits the time lag between the circulation of false claims and their debunking by fact-checkers. They warned that misinformation can gain traction rapidly, particularly in smaller towns and villages where access to verified information may be delayed.
One recent example cited by officials involved social media claims that Delhi Police had opened fire and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been injured during the protests. The claims were allegedly intended to provoke Congress supporters in other locations.
Officials further alleged that, under an initiative described as “Operation Ground Wire”, the network had also sought to recruit Indians to create content against the Indian state.
The Intelligence Bureau and state police are monitoring suspicious accounts and reporting them, officials said, but the scale of the alleged operation poses a continuing challenge for investigators.
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