Investigations expose banned JAC’s nexus with India: information minister

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday said investigations have exposed the nexus between the banned Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Azad Kashmir and India.

“The findings have uncovered an India-linked digital disinformation network aimed at spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda through coordinated social media campaigns,” the information minister said, talking to the media in Islamabad.

He said a person providing digital marketing services was arrested by Pakistan’s security agencies some time ago. Investigations revealed that the digital services provided by the suspect had links with India and payments for promoting anti-Pakistan content on social media were made from India, he added.

Tarar further said the investigation uncovered a network of bot farms being used to spread misinformation and amplify content targeting Pakistan, its sovereignty, the government, the armed forces, the army chief, and state institutions.

The minister said the suspect disclosed during interrogation that a significant portion of the content he received was related to the activities of the proscribed Joint Action Committee in Azad Kashmir.

He said the JAC had been working to undermine the Kashmir cause and weaken the relationship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan. “The committee has no connection with the interests of the Kashmiri people or the Kashmir cause,” he said, adding that if its members were sincere, they should participate in the democratic process by contesting elections.

The information minister said violent protests by the group resulted in the martyrdom of Kashmiri police personnel and created a law and order situation in Azad Kashmir. He added that the group’s activities have links with India and that the government possessed irrefutable evidence in this regard.

Tarar said the people of Kashmir have rejected the politics of violence and conspiracy, demonstrating that the relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir can neither be broken nor weakened.

He said investigations into the arrested suspect were continuing and stressed that countering misinformation is the government’s responsibility.

The minister highlighted that Pakistan remains a strong advocate of global peace and, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the country’s dignity and international standing have been further enhanced.

He expressed confidence that Pakistan would continue its journey of progress and development.