Publication of Fake News and Images on X Network Following Iran and Pakistan's Missile Attacks

The website 'PoliGraph', a fact-checking project of Voice of America, has examined news and images published on the 'X' network regarding the missile attacks between Iran and Pakistan. Following the reciprocal missile attacks between Iran and Pakistan in late January, a wave of fake news about the escalation of conflict between these two regional powers was published on X. Fabricated statements and documents were released by both reputable journalists and anonymous accounts, with millions of users sharing suspicious content. On the eve of Pakistan's retaliatory attacks against the Islamic Republic on January 27, Aaron Zelin, a reputable American researcher and founder of the 'Jihadology' website, which reports on Islamic extremist movements worldwide, shared a post in Arabic on a website that appeared to belong to the Pakistani army. The post claimed that Pakistani forces 'entered Iran' and 'targeted and destroyed several bases of separatist terrorist groups based in Iran with missiles and drones.' The 'PoliGraph' website deems this claim to be false, noting that no credible source reported any entry of Pakistani forces into Iran on January 27. However, a post under the username 'PakArmyAR' has been viewed and shared three million times. Aaron Zelin commented on this post: 'Pakistan responds.' PakArmyAR introduces itself as the official Arabic account of the Pakistani army. This account was created nearly a year ago and has over 34,000 followers, which is very low compared to the over 6 million followers of the official English-language account of the Pakistani army. The official account of the Pakistani army on the X network has received a gray badge; a label only given to recognized government entities and officials and multilateral institutions like the United Nations. In contrast, the PakArmyAR account has a blue badge that any user with a 'premium' subscription on X can access. X explains this by stating: 'Content uploaded on accounts with a blue badge is not reviewed to confirm whether it meets the active, notable, and credible standards that were used in the previous process.' PoliGraph further writes: In fact, there are other users with blue badges on X who describe themselves as official accounts of the Pakistani army. Additionally, the gray-badged account of the Pakistani army has been inactive since May 2023. However, the blue-badged accounts are active and post at least twice a day. Their content appears credible, often providing patriotic videos and photos about the Pakistani armed forces, along with some military advertisements. These blue-badged users, who appear as official accounts of the Pakistani army, often use a tone and language different from the official statements of the army, some of which include direct threats and religious references in a jihadist style. Another virtual post on X claimed that Pakistan is preventing journalists from reporting on Iran's airstrikes. Indian journalist 'Aditya Raj Kaul', executive editor of India's Network 9 television, also confirmed and published this claim. Raj Kaul shared a version of what appeared to be a Pakistani government document stating: 'All media are instructed not to publish and broadcast any news.' He wrote about this document that the Pakistani government 'prohibited all journalists from visiting areas affected by Iran's airstrikes.' The Pakistani Ministry of Information and Television responded to this post, stating that the document is a 'fake and fabricated note.' The Indian fact-checking website 'News Checker' examined the document sent by Raj and determined it to be fake. This website also interviewed Pakistani journalists, who stated that the government had not imposed such a ban. Meanwhile, Raj Kaul's post has been viewed and shared over 195,000 times; and although Pakistani officials and News Checker have denied it, it is still visible on the X network. Hussein Aryan: Attacking Pakistan was a wrong decision both politically and militarily. Fatemeh Aman: The Islamic Republic believed that Pakistan, Syria, and Iraq would not retaliate. Nasir Babakhani: Attacking Pakistan was a strategic mistake that will have widespread consequences in the future. Mawlawi Abdulhamid expressed regret over the deaths of women and children in the Iran and Pakistan attacks. Hooshang Hassan-Yari: The Islamic Republic managed to turn Pakistan's and Iraq's regional partners into its enemies. The gamble of Iran's attack on Pakistan; Kamran Bukhari: The aim was to send a message to Washington. Pakistan: We do not intend to escalate disputes with Iran; dialogue between the foreign ministers of the two countries. The contradictory behavior of the Islamic Republic; Amir-Abdollahian: Pakistan is a brother and neighboring country. The British travel advisory to its citizens: There is a possibility of 'further missile and drone attacks' in Sistan and Baluchestan. Abdulhamid: Iran and Pakistan should 'dialogue'; protesters in Zahedan chanted 'Death to Khamenei.' The U.S. emphasizes the necessity of 'restraint' for Iran and Pakistan: We absolutely do not want the conflicts to escalate.