Pakistan Afghanistan Visa Fake News Exposed

Pakistan Afghanistan Visa Fake News Exposed

Another “exclusive” news hit South Asia recently and is again proved to be pure nonsense. This time, it is a declaration that the Defense Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif and the ISI Chief Lt Gen Asim Malik had their visa rejected from Taliban government in Kabul. Indian and some Afghan media outlets had reported that several demands by Pakistan had been rejected in the course of three days. It sounds dramatic.
The trouble is that none of it occurred. This is absolute fabrication of the story. Pakistan did not ask for visas, even for once. However, fake news does not really require any facts to live, particularly when it fits a story that people would like to read or listen.

This story is a textbook example of how misinformation spreads when politics and propaganda overpower facts.

How the visa rumor started?

Basically, the original version was in Indian media, referring to unnamed sources identified as Afghan officials, which had no evidence. In a couple of hours, it was picked up by a small number of Afghan social media accounts and fringe sites, giving it their own spin amid the tense situation, and the resultant Afghan humiliation. It went viral, since it had all the right elements to aid those who are keen to paint Pakistan as desperate or marginalized.
In parallel time, Pakistan had witnessed this sort of thing before. A manufactured narrative is released in India and broadcasted in Kabul. Later, it was picked up and repeated by others who do not even take time to verify it. It is an old playbook and tends to activate and upset the comfort zone of Pakistan whenever the country has taken a bold diplomatic or military position.

The reality that Pakistan did not need to deny

Moreover, being straight to the point, Pakistan did not request a visa. Islamabad did not need to deploy anyone to Kabul. Actually, it is the Taliban who has been the only party showing keenness for visits in the recent past and have been making silent attempts to create an open line with Pakistani officials. Of course, this detail did not appear in the headlines. The entire situation with this visa denial appears as the intentional effort to spin the story in reverse. Thus, the whole scene was created to make Pakistan appear feeble, to make the Taliban appear strong, and to provide India with something to rejoice.

India’s obsession with Pakistan’s narrative

Besides, in recent history, the Indian media had a series of headlines related to Pakistan. In some cases, it was about hypothetical crises, in others there were so-called setbacks which were totally false. It does well on the domestic front, maintains their television arguments at a brisk pace, and nullifies their own diplomatic mistakes. However, the timing of this one is curious enough.
Moreover, a recent agreement with Afghanistan Taliban was mediated by Pakistan in Doha, with the support of Turkey and Qatar. This was a success that was a big one in a messy area. India was not a member of that, and it was a pinch. Then the reports started making their way to show that Pakistan had been snubbed or ignored. It was a handy method to take the spotlight off from the diplomatic victory of Islamabad.

Calculated silence of the Taliban

However, the Taliban did not deny or verify the visa story, thereby raising eyebrows. It is likely that some of them in Kabul did not see much wrong in letting it go through. They are being pressured at both home and abroad, after the military operation by Pakistan. So, leaving a rumor hanging is beneficial in making them appear defiant, at least to their own audience.
Still, they know the truth. Pakistan has not been pleading to have negotiations. This has been obvious and unified, the era of tolerance of cross-border militants is past. If peace has to prevail, then the Taliban must also take action against the groups who want to use the Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. It is the truth they do not want to talk about.

Why this fake news matters

Moving forward, anyone may believe it is just another gossip that will die off, but there are repercussions of such stories. They sow popular distrust, hurt solemn diplomacy, and provide extremists with a propaganda line. However, it is usually made to elicit a response, a couple of headlines, some angry tweets, and also chaos.
Additionally, it is not journalism, it is spreading false information on purpose. There are few newsrooms and online accounts which operate in concert and drill stories which are politically motivated. These reports fall through as soon as one calls out to have the real evidence.

A new friendship built on spin

Surprisingly, India and the Afghan circles have abruptly arrived at a point of consensus. They hardly coordinated anything over a long period of years. At this point, they appear to collaborate in an attempt to inject holes into the credibility of Islamabad. It is not an actual partnership, it is two individuals getting together to talk about a person they both dislike.
Nevertheless, this joint venture will not last long. The conflicting interests between both sides are too many. In the meantime, they appear to be content to exchange counterfeit headlines with each other to find solace. It is a temporary diversion from the fact that Pakistan is sticking its ground and gaining diplomatic control of the region.

Response of the Pakistan is composed and confident

Indeed, no hot-blooded press conference and no excessive counterargument is observed in Pakistan. There is just quiet confidence. Authorities rejected the report as fake and proceeded. It is the most effective response to fake news, which is not to give it air.

Pakistan’s calm and fact-based response turned out to be its strongest weapon and a silence that exposed the loud lies.

In the background, the government is not losing its focus as it has border security, counterterrorism, and stable relationships with good faith neighbors. So, it is not glamorous, yet it works.
Finally, this is not a story of facts in terms of the visa denial, it was a narrative and an attempt to paint Pakistan as an isolated country. It is at the time when Pakistan is doing just the opposite. It is trying to assert its interests and engage in regional diplomacy with confidence. However, fake stories will come and go. This one had occurred, but it had been a little more clumsy than normal. Hence, the irony is that by attempting to portray Pakistan as weak, the propagandists succeeded in bringing out the desperation in themselves. As fiction is the enemy’s ultimate weapon, so they have already lost the battle against Pakistan.