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The Digital Battlefield: An Analysis of Fake News and Disinformation from Indian Media in India-Pakistan Conflicts

This report provides a comprehensive examination of the pervasive impact of fake news and disinformation originating from Indian media during recent India-Pakistan conflicts, specifically focusing on the May 2025 hostilities and drawing parallels with the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode.

https://youtu.be/63BVQNo4Ly0

The analysis reveals a systemic proliferation of false narratives, doctored visuals, and AI-generated content, amplified significantly by mainstream media outlets and social media platforms. This phenomenon has profoundly shaped domestic public perception, fueled anxiety, and intensified nationalist sentiment, often to legitimize military actions and consolidate political support. Concurrently, it has led to a severe erosion of journalistic integrity, as commercial pressures and political alignment appear to override ethical reporting. Internationally, these practices have drawn sharp criticism from foreign media and watchdog organizations, highlighting concerns over declining press freedom and India’s global reputation. Furthermore, the report connects these recent events to long-term, sophisticated disinformation campaigns, such as those exposed by the EU DisinfoLab’s “Indian Chronicles,” which systematically targeted international forums to undermine Pakistan, demonstrating a strategic and sustained approach to information warfare.

Introduction: The Evolving Landscape of Information Warfare

The geopolitical landscape between India and Pakistan has long been characterized by periods of heightened tension and conflict. Recent hostilities, notably the May 2025 “Operation Sindoor” following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode, underscore that modern warfare extends far beyond traditional military engagements.¹ These conflicts have increasingly become crucial battlegrounds for narrative control and perception management, with digital platforms serving as primary arenas for information warfare.¹

In this evolving environment, understanding the nuances of misinformation and disinformation is critical. Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of intent, while disinformation involves deliberately fabricated or manipulated content intended to deceive and mislead.⁵ Experts widely consider the proliferation of such false narratives a significant societal concern, capable of fostering political polarization, eroding public trust, and contributing to problematic societal behaviors.⁵ During periods of armed conflict and heightened tensions, these tactics are strategically leveraged to shape public perception, escalate hostilities, and influence strategic outcomes.¹

The inherent chaos and uncertainty that define a conflict zone, often referred to as the “fog of war,” do not merely permit the existence of disinformation; they actively create an environment where it can thrive. The public’s heightened emotional state, coupled with a vacuum of verified information, makes populations particularly susceptible to manipulated narratives.¹ This suggests that disinformation is not simply an incidental byproduct of conflict but a deliberate, sophisticated strategy that capitalizes on and exacerbates the inherent vulnerabilities of information flow during wartime. The absence of transparent, timely, and credible official communication from governments can inadvertently create fertile ground for false narratives, making it harder for citizens and international observers to discern truth. This transforms the “fog of war” from a mere environmental factor into a strategic advantage for those employing information warfare.

Moreover, the weaponization of misinformation and disinformation during these conflicts is not an isolated phenomenon but is increasingly recognized as an integral component of modern hybrid warfare.¹ Indian pro-government influencers, for instance, openly framed their actions as “electronic warfare”.¹ This framing elevates the discussion beyond traditional media ethics to a national security concern and a fundamental challenge to international stability. It indicates that states are increasingly integrating information manipulation and narrative control into their comprehensive conflict strategies, blurring the lines between military, political, and informational fronts. This has profound implications for how international conflicts are understood, fought, and resolved, as well as for the stability of global information ecosystems and the effectiveness of traditional diplomatic tools.

The May 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: A Case Study in Digital Deception

The May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict witnessed an unprecedented surge in digital deception, with Indian media playing a significant role in the dissemination of fake news and disinformation.

Nature and Scale of Disinformation from Indian Media

Mainstream Indian news channels were observed broadcasting unverified information as “breaking news,” thereby lending false credibility to fabricated stories and amplifying their reach.¹ A pervasive tactic involved circulating misleading footage, with many channels airing clips from unrelated conflicts, such as the Israel attacks on Gaza or scenes of destruction in Lebanon, falsely presenting them as evidence of Indian strikes on Pakistani cities.⁷

The disinformation ecosystem was rife with specific fabricated claims designed to shape public perception. These included false reports of military victories, doctored videos, and fabricated images of destroyed infrastructure.¹ Prominent channels disseminated claims of a coup in Pakistan, alleged attacks on Islamabad, and the Indian INS Vikrant destroying the Karachi port.⁷ For instance, Times Now Navbharat falsely reported Indian forces entering Pakistan, while Zee News claimed the Indian Army had captured Islamabad and Pakistan had surrendered. Aaj Tak anchors attempted to create panic with false reports of suicide attacks on Indian Army units, a claim the Army later denied as fake. Various channels, including India TV, ABP News, and Zee News, reported the dismissal or arrest of Pakistan Army Chief Asif Munir. India Today falsely claimed an attack on Karachi, and ABP Ananda broadcast an old plane crash clip, misrepresenting it as destruction at the Karachi port. Republic Bangla declared, “Pakistan will be finished today,” following alleged attacks. India News reported Indian forces capturing Lahore, and NDTV caused panic with a false report of Pakistani tanks marching towards Rajasthan, which was later taken down.⁷ Unverified reports also circulated claiming 12 Pakistani cities were captured and the Pakistani Prime Minister was hiding in a bunker.⁷

This widespread dissemination of sensationalized and unverified content by mainstream media reveals a significant phenomenon: the “sensationalism-credibility paradox.” The intense commercial pressure to achieve higher viewership, often measured by Target Rating Points (TRPs), appears to incentivize sensationalism and the rapid dissemination of unverified information, even at the expense of fundamental journalistic integrity and truth.⁷ This dynamic creates a situation where the very act of seeking perceived credibility through “breaking news” ultimately undermines its actual credibility. The public, constantly exposed to such a diet of sensationalized and unverified content, risks becoming desensitized to factual inaccuracies or less capable of discerning objective information, leading to increased public anxiety and potentially irrational collective behavior.⁷ This fundamentally compromises the media’s role as a reliable source of information for an informed citizenry.

The conflict also highlighted an accelerating evolution of digital warfare tactics. While recycled footage from unrelated conflicts and weaponized video game footage were prevalent, the May 2025 hostilities saw a significant leap to sophisticated AI-generated content and deepfakes.¹ Pre-existing video game footage was strategically edited with text overlays, patriotic soundtracks, and strategic commentary to create compelling, yet false, battlefield narratives, generating millions of views.¹ Fact-checkers noted the laborious process involved in identifying and debunking these, often requiring hours of video game footage review.⁷ AI-generated content represented a significant evolution, with fabricated stories about Pakistani military figures supported by AI-generated visuals widely circulated in India, and similar AI-generated videos and images falsely depicting Indian military losses.¹ Specific instances included two AI-generated fake videos of a Pakistani army spokesperson ⁷ and highly convincing audio deepfakes of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the DIG ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) of Pakistan, both falsely admitting to the loss of two Pakistani jets.⁷ The fact that a deepfake’s “lip sync was nearly perfect” ⁸ indicates a high level of technological sophistication. This progression signifies a rapid and concerning technological advancement in the capabilities of disinformation actors. This suggests an escalating “arms race” in the information domain, where the sophistication and realism of disinformation outpace the current ability of fact-checkers, AI detection tools, and the general public to reliably identify and debunk it. This raises profound concerns about the future of verifiable information in conflict zones and the increasing difficulty of maintaining a shared objective reality. This technological escalation could lead to more severe real-world consequences, as highly convincing fabrications become harder to distinguish from truth, potentially influencing policy decisions and public sentiment on an unprecedented scale.

Social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, served as primary vectors for cross-border information warfare, with X emerging as the main hub for both misinformation and disinformation.¹ It is also important to acknowledge that Pakistani media platforms circulated baseless narratives, claiming the Pakistan Air Force shot down Indian drones, denying civilian deaths from retaliatory strikes, and attempting to portray Pakistan as a wounded but heroic victim while denying terror links.³

Impact on Domestic Public Perception and Tensions

The pervasive nature of disinformation profoundly shaped public perception and heightened tensions between the two countries.¹ It fueled mass anxiety and misinformation, leading even rational individuals to exhibit irrational behavior due to constant exposure to sensationalized and unverified content.⁷ The disinformation was strategically timed to intensify tensions, legitimize retaliatory military actions, and compel both governments to adopt increasingly belligerent stances.¹ Crucially, the online disinformation ecosystem directly fed into real-world escalation, influencing public opinion and diplomatic narratives.¹ Furthermore, specific disinformation campaigns aimed to undermine Pakistani morale while inflating Indian victory narratives.⁸

A critical observation points to disinformation being used as a primary tool for domestic mobilization and control. Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, noted that “each country—India and Pakistan—was not directing propaganda outwards, but rather inwards—towards its citizens”.⁷ He elaborated that “each was also conducting disinformation warfare against its people.” This approach exploited emotionally charged content to drive engagement, escalate nationalist sentiment, and manufacture support for an all-out war.¹ This strategic shift from traditional propaganda aimed at external enemies to a more insidious form of internal manipulation suggests that governments and aligned media are actively shaping their own populations’ perceptions not just to counter external narratives, but primarily to consolidate power, legitimize aggressive or retaliatory actions, and suppress internal dissent. This has profound implications for democratic processes, civil liberties, and the very concept of an informed citizenry within these nations, as the state actively engages in a “war of perception” against its own people.

Fact-Checking Efforts and Government Responses

Fact-checking agencies such as Alt News and The Quint, along with independent researchers, actively observed and debunked a significant amount of disinformation.¹ However, despite these efforts, a substantial amount of misleading content went unchecked, amplifying its reach and impact.¹ The Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) claimed to have countered at least seven major instances of misinformation.¹ Notably, the Indian Army had to issue specific statements to debunk false claims broadcast by channels like Aaj Tak.⁷ The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also issued an advisory directing media outlets to refrain from using Civil Defence Air Raid Sirens sounds, indicating official recognition of irresponsible media behavior.⁷

The efforts of fact-checking organizations, while vital, highlight a significant asymmetry between disinformation generation and debunking. The speed, volume, and technological sophistication of disinformation generation, especially with the advent of AI, far outpace the capacity of human-led fact-checking efforts to verify and debunk.¹ This creates an inherent and growing imbalance in the information battle, implying that relying solely on reactive fact-checking is an insufficient strategy to combat widespread disinformation. It underscores the urgent need for scalable, proactive counter-disinformation strategies, including advanced technological solutions for detection and greater platform accountability. More critically, it means that the public is consistently exposed to unverified, false information for longer periods before corrections can be made, leading to the entrenchment of false narratives and a continuous erosion of trust in the information ecosystem.

Critically, while the Indian government made some efforts to counter misinformation originating from Pakistan, it did little to challenge the divisive campaigns actively waged by mainstream Indian broadcasters.⁴ This selective engagement with disinformation as a political tool reveals a clear pattern: the government actively combats external disinformation that undermines its narrative, but tolerates, or implicitly supports, internal disinformation that aligns with its political agenda or promotes nationalist sentiment. This approach suggests that the government views disinformation not as an objective threat to the integrity of the information environment, but rather as a malleable tool to be strategically managed for political ends. This selective approach fundamentally undermines the credibility of official fact-checking efforts and sends a clear signal to mainstream media outlets that pro-government disinformation will face little to no consequence. This dynamic further erodes journalistic ethics, exacerbates the spread of biased information, and ultimately compromises the public’s ability to receive accurate and impartial news, which is vital for democratic accountability.

Table 1: Key Instances of Fake News in May 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict (Indian Media)

Media Outlet(s)	Specific Fake Claim/Narrative	Type of Disinformation	Debunked By
Times Now Navbharat	Indian forces entered Pakistan	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
Zee News	Indian Army captured Islamabad; Pakistan surrendered	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
Aaj Tak	Terrorists began suicide attack on Indian Army units	Fabricated claim	Indian Army ⁷
India TV, ABP News, Zee News, etc.	Pakistan Army Chief Asif Munir dismissed/arrested	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
India Today	India attacked Karachi	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
ABP Ananda	Old plane crash clip presented as Karachi port destruction	Recycled footage	Fact-checkers ⁷
Republic Bangla	“Pakistan will be finished today” (following alleged Karachi attack)	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
India News	Indian forces captured Lahore	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers
NDTV	Large number of Pakistani tanks marching towards Rajasthan	Fabricated claim	NDTV (report later taken down) ⁷
Times Now, Republic World, News 9, India TV News	Pakistani pilot captured	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers ⁷
India Today, Deccan Chronicle	India shot down two Pakistani JF-17s and one F-16 on May 8	Unverified report	Fact-checkers ⁷
Many News Channels	12 Pakistani cities captured; Pakistani PM hiding in a bunker	Fabricated claim	Fact-checkers ⁷
Almost all TV news channels	Clips from Israel/Lebanon attacks presented as Indian strikes on Pakistan	Misleading footage	Fact-checkers ⁷
India TV channels	Claims of coup in Pakistan; alleged attacks on Islamabad; INS Vikrant destroying Karachi port	Fabricated claims	Fact-checkers ⁷
Various (social media)	AI-generated fake videos of Pakistani army spokesperson	AI-generated content	Fact-checkers ⁷
The Quint (Abhilash Mallick)	Audio deepfakes of PM Shahbaz Sharif and DIG ISPR admitting jet losses	Audio deepfake	Fact-checkers ⁷

The 2019 Pulwama-Balakot Episode: Precedent of Hyper-Partisan Media

The 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode served as a significant precedent for the current state of information warfare, exemplifying a dangerous turn towards militant nationalism and a hyper-partisan media ecosystem in India.² During this period, television channels aired simulated dogfights and computer-generated imagery (CGI) reconstructions of airstrikes, blurring the lines between reality and fabrication.² News anchors aggressively shouted down critics and opposition leaders, branding anyone who questioned the official narrative as “anti-national”.²

Misinformation Tactics and Amplification by Indian Media

A particularly alarming revelation from this period was the institutional complicity and compromise of fact-checking mechanisms. Three of Facebook’s seven fact-checking partners in India—India Today, Dainik Jagran, and Newsmobile—were found to have circulated misinformation following the Pulwama terror attack.⁹ This indicates that prominent media institutions, some explicitly tasked with verifying information, actively participated in or failed to adequately correct misinformation. This suggests a profound systemic issue where even entities designed to safeguard information integrity are compromised, either by commercial pressures, political alignment, or a severe lack of rigorous internal standards. This significantly erodes public trust not only in traditional media but also in the very mechanisms established to combat fake news. It also raises concerns about the effectiveness of partnerships between social media platforms and fact-checkers if the partners themselves are part of the problem, potentially influencing the algorithms and content moderation decisions of these platforms.

Specific instances of misinformation from these outlets included:

India Today Group: Used a 2017 video to falsely portray IAF jets inside Pakistani territory during the Balakot airstrike, a video which the channel has not taken down or clarified.⁹ It employed a photoshopped image to depict a “slain terrorist” of the Pulwama attack, later taking it down with a clarification.⁹ The channel also carried an ANI report based on a Gilgit activist’s tweet, falsely claiming a Pakistani military officer admitted to the “martyrdom of 200 terrorists,” a claim later debunked.⁹ Furthermore, it prematurely broadcasted that “300 terrorists were killed in Balakot airstrike” without official government confirmation, a figure the Defense Minister later stated would not be provided.⁹ Its sister channel, Aaj Tak, used a three-year-old image of a crashed Indian Air Force trainer aircraft to illustrate a report on downed IAF planes, later changing the photograph without clarification.⁹
Dainik Jagran: Also prematurely reported “300 terrorists killed in Balakot” on its front page.⁹ It published a misleading article about a Gilgit activist’s supposed “proof” of airstrike deaths, which was later vaguely altered but remained factually incorrect.⁹ The outlet had previous instances of misreporting on sensitive issues.⁹
Newsmobile: Reported the unverified “300 terrorists killed” figure.⁹ Additionally, its practice of publishing “Astro predictions,” which are considered pseudoscience, raised questions about its credibility as a fact-checking partner.⁹

The timing of the Balakot strike and the orchestrated media frenzy around it, taking place just months before the 2019 general election, points to disinformation being used as a strategic political tool in electoral cycles.² This direct temporal correlation between a significant military event, the subsequent media frenzy, and an impending general election is highly indicative of a strategic political motive. The amplification of hyper-nationalist narratives and the suppression of dissent served to mobilize majoritarian support, delegitimize opposition, and silence dissent.² This positions disinformation not merely as a reactive response to conflict but as a proactive, calculated political tool used to influence electoral outcomes. It highlights the dangerous intersection of media, military actions, and political campaigns in shaping public opinion and consolidating power. This has profound implications for the integrity of democratic processes, as information manipulation becomes a means to bypass rational discourse and directly sway voter sentiment.

Sociopolitical Impact and Silencing Dissent

The orchestrated media strategy successfully mobilized majoritarian support, simultaneously delegitimizing opposition voices and effectively silencing dissent.² Individuals who dared to question the official narrative, including grieving Kashmiri students, faced harassment, arrest, or were branded as “anti-national”.² Calls for proof or verification were summarily labeled as treasonous, creating an environment where truth was suppressed in favor of a dominant, state-aligned narrative.²

Table 2: Key Instances of Misinformation Post-Pulwama Attack (Indian Media)

Media Outlet(s)	Specific Misinformation Claim	Type of Disinformation	Debunked By	Facebook Fact-Checking Partner Status
India Today	2017 video used to portray IAF jets in Balakot airstrike	Recycled video	Alt News ⁹	Yes ⁹
India Today	Photoshopped image of ‘slain terrorist’ of Pulwama attack	Photoshopped image	Alt News ⁹	Yes ⁹
India Today	“Bodies shifted from Balakot after IAF airstrike” (based on debunked ANI report)	Misleading report	Alt News ⁹	Yes ⁹
India Today	“300 terrorists killed in Balakot airstrike”	Unverified casualty count	Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (denied official figure) ⁹	Yes ⁹
Aaj Tak (India Today Group)	2015 image used as downed IAF plane in Balakot airstrike	Old image re-contextualized	Alt News ⁹	Yes (via group) ⁹
Dainik Jagran	“300 terrorists killed in Balakot”	Unverified casualty count	Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (denied official figure) ⁹	Yes ⁹
Dainik Jagran	Misleading report on Gilgit activist’s “proof” of airstrike deaths	Misleading report	Alt News ⁹	Yes ⁹
Newsmobile	“300 terrorists killed” figure	Unverified casualty count	Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (denied official figure) ⁹	Yes ⁹
Newsmobile	Publication of “Astro predictions”	Pseudoscience as fact-check	Alt News (criticism) ⁹	Yes ⁹

International Scrutiny: Foreign Media and Watchdog Perspectives

The conduct of Indian media during recent conflicts and the broader state of press freedom in India have attracted significant international scrutiny and condemnation.

Condemnation of Indian Media Practices and Journalistic Integrity

International fact-checkers and experts have widely condemned the Indian media’s role in the May 2025 conflict, labeling it a “national embarrassment” that severely undermined journalistic integrity and misled citizens during a critical geopolitical moment.⁷ Rajiv Sharma, Chief Spokesperson at Chandigarh of the Pradesh Congress Committee, publicly stated that “All sensible people in the world have lost faith in the reports of India’s mainstream media,” asserting that such reporting was “making us a laughing stock in the world”.⁷

Senior journalist and author Gowhar Geelani went further, terming Indian television media “India’s national embarrassment” and criticizing prime time anchors for spreading propaganda that “would have easily put both (Otto) Dietrich and (Joseph) Goebbels – Hitler’s Nazi Propagandists- to shame”.⁷ This comparison is a particularly strong and damning critique, suggesting deliberate, state-aligned propaganda on a scale comparable to historical totalitarian regimes. This indicates that the perceived ethical degradation of Indian mainstream media is not merely a domestic issue but has severe international reputational consequences. It implies a significant loss of credibility on the global stage, making it increasingly difficult for India to assert soft power, be seen as a reliable source of information, or engage effectively in international diplomacy where factual integrity is paramount. This erosion of trust can impact diplomatic relations, international partnerships, and global perceptions of India’s democratic health.

Mohammad Kasim, Professor at the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, asserted that the news aired on TV channels violated journalistic ethics, becoming a “different genre of entertainment”.⁷ Concerns were also raised about “careless and irresponsible” reporting on news channels and the widespread posting of unverified information by journalists on social media.⁷

The consistent observations of “erosion of journalistic ethics,” “national embarrassment,” and “deteriorating standards of journalism” across multiple sources point to a systemic crisis within the profession.⁷ Mohammad Kasim’s observation that journalism students face a “hard choice” between upholding ethics and “making ends meet” due to “very few credible media houses available” ⁷ is particularly telling. This indicates that the problem is not isolated to a few bad actors or specific incidents but represents a systemic crisis affecting the entire profession, including its future practitioners. This points to a long-term degradation of the media’s foundational role as a public watchdog, a source of objective truth, and a pillar of democratic accountability. If the next generation of journalists is compelled to compromise ethical standards for professional survival, the cycle of sensationalism, misinformation, and propaganda will perpetuate and intensify. This further entrenches the “digital battlefield” and makes it increasingly difficult for the public to access impartial information, thereby weakening democratic institutions and informed public discourse.

Censorship and Press Freedom Concerns

International watchdogs have been consistently critical of the Indian government’s actions related to press freedom and censorship, particularly during heightened tensions with Pakistan.¹⁰

International rankings reflect these concerns:

The Sweden-based V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute, in its 2025 report titled “25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?”, stated that India has been “one of the worst autocratizers lately” globally.¹⁰
The US-based Freedom House, in its 2025 report titled “Freedom in the World 2025,” categorized India as “partly free” in terms of Global Freedom and Internet Freedom.¹⁰
The Paris-based organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked India at 151 out of 180 countries in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index.¹⁰

The Indian government has consistently rejected these global reports on media freedom, free speech, religious freedom for minorities, and democracy, describing them as “motivated”.¹⁰

Specific instances of censorship during May 2025 hostilities included X (formerly Twitter) being forced to block over 8,000 accounts in India following executive orders from the government. These demands included blocking access to accounts belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users, often without specified legal violations or justification.¹⁰ X complied by withholding accounts in India but publicly disagreed with the demands, deeming them an “unconstitutional attack on free speech”.¹⁰ Leading web portals like Maktoob Media and BBC Urdu had their accounts made inoperative.¹⁰ The online news portal The Wire was temporarily blocked by order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.⁶ Individual accounts of senior journalists, including Anuradha Bhasin and Muzamil Jaleel, were made inoperative.¹⁰ A YouTube video uploaded by Pravin Sawhney, editor of the defence magazine FORCE, which was critical of the government’s use of airstrikes against Pakistan, was also blocked.¹⁰ The X accounts of two Kashmiri news portals, Free Press Kashmir and The Kashmiriyat, were suspended “in response to a legal demand by the government”.¹⁰

This situation reveals a “dual strategy” of information control: countering external narratives while suppressing internal dissent. The Indian government made some efforts to counter misinformation apparently originating in Pakistan but did little to challenge the divisive campaigns being waged by mainstream Indian broadcasters.⁴ Simultaneously, it aggressively blocked independent media and critical voices. This indicates that the government’s concern is not about “fake news” per se, but about who is disseminating it and what narrative it supports. The government’s perceived “panic mode” when blocking credible accounts suggests a fear of accurate, independent reporting more than external propaganda.¹⁰ This reveals a sophisticated, two-pronged approach to information control: delegitimizing external narratives that challenge the state’s position while aggressively suppressing internal dissent and independent reporting that might expose uncomfortable truths or offer alternative perspectives. This strategy aims to create a tightly controlled, homogenous information environment that overwhelmingly favors the government’s agenda, thereby fundamentally undermining democratic norms, the public’s right to diverse information, and the role of a free press as a check on power.

Critics noted that “sane voices and professional journalists who sift fact from fiction” are being banned, while those who “sensationalise and further amplify the fake narratives during sensitive times are enjoying the government’s patronage”.¹⁰ This highlights a “rewarding disinformation” phenomenon, where adherence to factual reporting leads to suppression, while the promotion of sensationalism and propaganda is explicitly or implicitly rewarded with “government’s patronage.” This creates a fundamentally distorted media landscape where journalistic integrity is actively disincentivized. It transforms media from a public service and a pillar of democracy into a state-aligned propaganda arm, with severe long-term consequences for press freedom, democratic accountability, and the very concept of objective truth within the nation. Such a system encourages a race to the bottom in terms of journalistic standards, as outlets compete for state favor by amplifying sensationalist and often false narratives. The Ministry of Defence also directed all media channels, digital platforms, and individuals to “refrain from live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces”.¹⁰ Human Rights Watch observed that Indian officials repressed dissent and targeted peaceful criticism amidst hate speech and misinformation.⁴

Table 3: International Watchdog Assessments of Indian Press Freedom (2025)

Organization	Report/Index (Year)	Key Finding/Ranking	Indian Government’s Stance
V-Dem Institute	“25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?” (2025)	“One of the worst autocratizers lately” globally	Rejected as “motivated” ¹⁰
Freedom House	“Freedom in the World 2025”	“Partly free” (Global Freedom: 63/100, Internet Freedom: 50/100)	Rejected as “motivated” ¹⁰
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)	World Press Freedom Index (2025)	Ranked 151 out of 180 countries	Rejected as “motivated” ¹⁰

The “Indian Chronicles”: A Deeper Dive into Long-Term Disinformation Campaigns

The recent instances of disinformation from Indian media during conflicts are not isolated events but are part of a broader, more sophisticated pattern of long-term information operations, as extensively documented by the EU DisinfoLab’s “Indian Chronicles” report. This investigation provides crucial context for understanding the strategic depth of such campaigns.

Overview of EU DisinfoLab’s Findings (Scale, Tactics, Longevity)

In 2019, the EU DisinfoLab initially uncovered a vast network of 265 coordinated fake local media outlets operating in 65 countries, serving Indian interests.¹¹ A subsequent, more in-depth investigation revealed the true scale: this operation had been active for over 15 years, spanning 115 countries, and involved more than 750 phony media houses, reconstituted NGOs, and imitated UN-accredited personalities.¹³ The operation was attributed to the New-Delhi based Srivastava Group.¹¹

The “Indian Chronicles” employed an “astounding level of fakery”.¹¹ This included resurrecting dead media outlets, defunct think-tanks, and inactive NGOs, and even impersonating deceased individuals.¹¹ The actors behind the operation hijacked names, tried to impersonate legitimate media and press agencies such as the EU Observer, The Economist, and Voice of America, and even used the letterhead of the European Parliament.¹¹ They registered websites under avatars with fake phone numbers and provided fake addresses.¹¹

This scale and sophistication point to a highly organized, state-aligned (via the Srivastava Group) “deep state” level of information warfare. The “astounding level of fakery” that allowed it to persist for so long is a key indicator of its strategic depth.¹¹ This reveals a systemic, long-term, and globally coordinated effort to manipulate international discourse, not just domestic public opinion. It suggests that geopolitical rivalries are increasingly fought through covert information operations designed to undermine a rival’s international standing, influence policy decisions in third countries, and shape global narratives to one’s strategic advantage. This has profound implications for international relations, trust between nations, and the integrity of global information flows, indicating a new frontier in statecraft where information manipulation is a primary weapon.

The network also created informal groups within the European Parliament, namely the “South Asia Peace Forum,” the “Baloch Forum,” and “Friends of Gilgit-Baltistan,” to organize press conferences and events aimed at influencing MEPs.¹¹ Organizations linked to the network, such as the Women’s Economic and Social Think-Tank (WESTT), drafted and suggested parliamentary questions to the European Commission and articles for fake EU magazines like EP Today (later EU Chronicle), serving as a “honeypot” to attract MEPs into a pro-India and anti-Pakistan discourse.¹¹ This strategic use of legitimate humanitarian causes for geopolitical gain is a deeply concerning manipulation. By associating a disinformation campaign with universally accepted human rights issues, the operation gained a veneer of legitimacy and moral authority, making it more difficult for targets to dismiss the content as mere propaganda.¹¹ This not only undermines the credibility of genuine human rights advocacy and civil society movements but also makes it significantly harder for policymakers, international bodies, and the public to discern authentic calls for justice from state-sponsored propaganda. This could lead to increased skepticism towards legitimate human rights reports and a chilling effect on genuine advocacy, as such efforts might be viewed with suspicion due to their potential for exploitation.

The operation’s activities extended across multiple continents, including the creation of obscure companies in Canada, fake media targeting South-Asian populations in Canada, involvement in demonstrations in New York, and the creation of fake media in Bangladesh and the Maldives, as well as impersonating a number of African human rights NGOs and creating lobbying agencies targeting EU institutions.¹¹ The EU DisinfoLab classified the impact of this 15-year-old disinformation campaign as Category 6, the highest classification, indicating that its agenda had drawn out responses from policymakers or incited hostility aimed at the target.¹⁴ The investigation heavily relied on the analysis of websites and domain names, particularly historical WHOIS data, which proved critical due to the actors’ earlier lack of concern for privacy.¹⁴

Connection to Anti-Pakistan and Kashmir Narratives

The content disseminated by this vast network was explicitly designed “primarily to undermine Pakistan”.¹¹ The operation actively sponsored trips of MEPs to visit Kashmir and facilitated meetings with India’s Prime Minister, all with the intent of promoting a pro-India and anti-Pakistan discourse within international forums.¹¹ This demonstrates a clear, long-term strategic objective. This illustrates how sophisticated disinformation campaigns are an integral and sustained component of modern geopolitical competition. They aim to erode a rival’s international standing, influence policy decisions in third countries (e.g., EU member states), and shape global narratives to one’s strategic advantage. This moves beyond merely influencing public opinion within a conflict zone to directly influencing international policy and diplomatic relations, with potential long-term impacts on a nation’s foreign policy objectives and its global reputation.

Table 4: Overview of EU DisinfoLab’s “Indian Chronicles” Findings

Aspect	Description	Relevant Snippet(s)
Scale	Active for over 15 years (began 2006); operated in 115 countries; involved >750 phony media houses, reconstituted NGOs, imitated UN-accredited personalities.	¹¹
Attribution	Attributed to the New-Delhi based Srivastava Group.	¹¹
Tactics	Resurrected dead media, think-tanks, NGOs, and people; impersonated legitimate media (EU Observer, The Economist, VOA); used European Parliament letterhead; registered fake domains/addresses; created informal EU Parliament groups (South Asia Peace Forum, Baloch Forum, Friends of Gilgit-Baltistan); drafted parliamentary questions/articles for fake EU magazines (EP Today/EU Chronicle); used minority/women’s rights as entry points; created obscure companies globally.	¹¹
Primary Objective	Primarily to undermine Pakistan; promote pro-India and anti-Pakistan discourse in international forums (EU, UN).	¹¹
Impact Classification	Category 6 (highest): agenda drew responses from policymakers or incited hostility.	¹⁴
Methodology	Heavily relied on analysis of websites and domain names, particularly historical WHOIS data.	¹⁴
Global Reach	Activities across multiple continents including Canada, New York, Bangladesh, Maldives, Africa (impersonating human rights NGOs, lobbying EU institutions).	¹¹

Conclusion

The analysis of fake news and disinformation from Indian media during the recent May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, set against the backdrop of the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode and long-term campaigns like the “Indian Chronicles,” reveals a deeply concerning and systemic landscape of information manipulation. The “fog of war” is not merely a condition but a strategic asset, exploited to propagate false narratives that shape public perception, escalate tensions, and legitimize military actions.

During the May 2025 conflict, mainstream Indian media outlets actively amplified unverified information, doctored visuals, and sophisticated AI-generated content, including deepfakes. This behavior highlights a “sensationalism-credibility paradox,” where commercial pressures for viewership appear to override journalistic ethics, leading to a severe erosion of media integrity and fostering public anxiety. The accelerating evolution of digital warfare tactics, particularly with AI and deepfakes, signifies an escalating “arms race” in the information domain, where the speed and realism of disinformation outpace current debunking capabilities, posing a profound challenge to the future of verifiable information. Furthermore, the primary target of much of this disinformation appears to be domestic populations, serving as a tool for internal mobilization, consolidation of power, and suppression of dissent.

The 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode demonstrated that these patterns are not new, revealing institutional complicity in the spread of misinformation, even by organizations designated as fact-checking partners. This historical context underscores how disinformation is strategically deployed as a political tool, particularly around electoral cycles, to sway public opinion and achieve political objectives.

Internationally, the conduct of Indian media has drawn widespread condemnation from foreign media and watchdog organizations, who have labeled it a “national embarrassment” and drawn parallels to historical propaganda. This has resulted in significant international reputational damage and a loss of global trust. The systemic crisis in journalistic ethics, exacerbated by a “rewarding disinformation” phenomenon where factual reporting is suppressed while sensationalism is rewarded, threatens the future of independent journalism and democratic accountability. The Indian government’s “dual strategy” of actively countering external misinformation while tacitly allowing or even suppressing internal dissent and independent reporting further compounds these concerns, suggesting that information control is viewed as a political instrument rather than a commitment to factual integrity.

The comprehensive findings of the EU DisinfoLab’s “Indian Chronicles” report underscore the long-term, globally orchestrated nature of such disinformation campaigns. This operation, spanning over 15 years and multiple continents, systematically aimed to undermine Pakistan’s international standing and influence global policy through an “astounding level of fakery,” including the cynical exploitation of legitimate humanitarian causes. This reveals disinformation as a pervasive tool for geopolitical delegitimization, impacting international relations and the integrity of global information flows.

In conclusion, the proliferation of fake news and disinformation from Indian media during India-Pakistan conflicts is a multifaceted issue with profound implications. It reflects a complex interplay of geopolitical tensions, domestic political objectives, evolving technological capabilities, and a deteriorating media ethics landscape. Addressing this challenge requires not only enhanced fact-checking and media literacy initiatives but also a fundamental re-evaluation of journalistic responsibilities, governmental transparency, and international collaboration to safeguard information integrity in an increasingly digital and polarized world.

During recent India-Pakistan conflicts, particularly the May 2025 hostilities and the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode, fake news and disinformation from Indian media have had a significant and multifaceted impact.

How Fake News Impacts:

The proliferation of fake news and disinformation has profoundly shaped public perception, fueled mass anxiety, and intensified nationalist sentiment within India.¹ This content is strategically leveraged to legitimize military actions, consolidate political support, and compel governments to adopt more belligerent stances.¹ Experts consider misinformation a significant societal concern, capable of fostering political polarization, eroding public trust, and contributing to problematic societal behaviors.⁴ During conflict, the “fog of war” creates an environment where false narratives thrive, making populations susceptible to manipulation.¹ Indian pro-government influencers have openly framed their actions as “electronic warfare,” indicating that information manipulation is an integral part of modern hybrid warfare.¹ This disinformation is often directed inwards, towards a country’s own citizens, to drive engagement and manufacture support for conflict.³

How Many Fake News Items Were Published/Broadcast:

While a precise total number is not available, the volume was substantial, with Indian mainstream media “flooding the public with fake news, doctored visuals, and sensationalist coverage”.³ Fact-checking agencies like Alt News and The Quint actively observed and debunked a significant amount of this content.¹

Specific examples from the May 2025 conflict include:

Misleading Footage: Almost all Indian TV news channels circulated misleading footage, airing clips from unrelated conflicts (e.g., Israel attacks on Gaza, destruction in Lebanon) and falsely presenting them as evidence of Indian strikes on Pakistani cities.³ Old video game footage was also weaponized and edited with patriotic soundtracks to create false battlefield narratives.¹
Fabricated Claims:
- Times Now Navbharat falsely reported Indian forces entering Pakistan.³
- Zee News claimed the Indian Army captured Islamabad and Pakistan surrendered.³
- Aaj Tak falsely reported suicide attacks on Indian Army units, a claim the Army later denied.³
- Several channels (India TV, ABP News, Zee News) reported the dismissal or arrest of Pakistan Army Chief Asif Munir.³
- India Today falsely claimed an attack on Karachi, while ABP Ananda used an old plane crash clip to depict Karachi port destruction.³
- India News reported Indian forces capturing Lahore.³
- NDTV falsely reported Pakistani tanks marching towards Rajasthan, later taking the report down.³
- Claims of 12 Pakistani cities captured and the Pakistani Prime Minister hiding in a bunker also circulated.³
AI-Generated Content: The conflict saw a significant rise in sophisticated AI-generated content and deepfakes. This included two AI-generated fake videos of a Pakistani army spokesperson and highly convincing audio deepfakes of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the DIG ISPR, falsely admitting to jet losses.¹ An AI-generated image falsely showed Rawalpindi Stadium in ruins, gaining millions of views.⁶

During the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode, misinformation tactics included:

Recycled Videos/Photoshopped Images: India Today used a 2017 video to falsely portray IAF jets inside Pakistani territory during the Balakot airstrike and a photoshopped image to depict a “slain terrorist”.⁷ Aaj Tak used a three-year-old image of a crashed Indian Air Force trainer aircraft to illustrate a report on downed IAF planes.⁷
Unverified Casualty Counts: India Today, Dainik Jagran, and Newsmobile prematurely reported “300 terrorists killed in Balakot airstrike” without official government confirmation.⁷

Impact on World Journalism:

The conduct of Indian media has been widely condemned by international fact-checkers and experts, who labeled it a “national embarrassment” that severely undermined journalistic integrity and misled citizens.³ Critics noted a “sensationalism-credibility paradox,” where commercial pressures for viewership (TRPs) appeared to incentivize sensationalism over factual reporting.³ Senior journalist Gowhar Geelani compared Indian television media’s propaganda to that of “Hitler’s Nazi Propagandists”.³ Mohammad Kasim, a professor of Mass Communication, stated that Indian news has become a “different genre of entertainment” and that mainstream outlets often disregard basic journalistic ethics.³ This has led to a severe erosion of trust in Indian media among international observers.⁵

How Foreign Media and Watchdogs See It (with data):

International watchdogs have consistently criticized the Indian government’s actions related to press freedom and censorship, particularly during heightened tensions.³

V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute (Sweden-based): In its 2025 report, “25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?”, it stated that India has been “one of the worst autocratizers lately” globally.³
Freedom House (US-based): In its 2025 report, “Freedom in the World 2025,” it categorized India as “partly free” in terms of Global Freedom (63/100) and Internet Freedom (50/100).³
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (Paris-based): Ranked India at 151 out of 180 countries in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index.³

The Indian government has consistently rejected these global reports, describing them as “motivated”.³

Instances of censorship and suppression of independent media during the May 2025 hostilities further highlight these concerns:

X (formerly Twitter) was forced to block over 8,000 accounts in India, including those of international news organizations and prominent users, often without specified legal violations.³
Leading web portals like Maktoob Media and BBC Urdu had their accounts made inoperative.³
The online news portal The Wire was temporarily blocked.⁵
Individual accounts of senior journalists were made inoperative.³
A YouTube video critical of the government’s airstrikes was blocked.³
Human Rights Watch observed that Indian officials repressed dissent and targeted peaceful criticism amidst hate speech and misinformation.⁹ They noted that while the Indian government made efforts to counter misinformation from Pakistan, it did little to challenge divisive campaigns by mainstream Indian broadcasters.⁹ Critics argue that “sane voices and professional journalists who sift fact from fiction” are being banned, while those who “sensationalise and further amplify the fake narratives… are enjoying the government’s patronage”.⁸

Connection to Old EU Reports (Indian Chronicles):

The recent instances of disinformation are not isolated but are part of a broader, long-term pattern documented by the EU DisinfoLab’s “Indian Chronicles” report.⁵

Scale and Longevity: The investigation uncovered a vast network active for over 15 years (beginning in 2006), spanning 115 countries, involving more than 750 phony media houses, reconstituted NGOs, and imitated UN-accredited personalities.¹⁰
Attribution: The operation was attributed to the New-Delhi based Srivastava Group.¹⁰
Tactics: It involved an “astounding level of fakery,” including resurrecting dead media outlets, defunct think-tanks, and inactive NGOs, and even impersonating deceased individuals.¹⁰ They hijacked names, impersonated legitimate media (e.g., EU Observer, The Economist), and used European Parliament letterhead.¹⁰ The network created informal groups within the European Parliament to influence MEPs and used humanitarian causes like minority rights as entry points for pro-India, anti-Pakistan discourse.¹⁰
Primary Objective: The content disseminated was explicitly designed “primarily to undermine Pakistan”.¹⁰ The operation sponsored trips of MEPs to Kashmir and facilitated meetings with India’s Prime Minister to promote a pro-India and anti-Pakistan narrative in international forums.¹⁰
Impact Classification: The EU DisinfoLab classified the impact of this 15-year-old disinformation campaign as Category 6, the highest classification, indicating that its agenda had drawn responses from policymakers or incited hostility aimed at the target.¹⁴

This demonstrates a strategic and sustained approach to information warfare, moving beyond influencing domestic public opinion to directly impacting international policy and diplomatic relations.¹⁰

Works cited

Inside the Misinformation and Disinformation War Between India …, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.csohate.org/2025/05/16/india-pakistan-digital-war/
Dehumanisation in a Time of War Hysteria | The India Forum, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.theindiaforum.in/society/dehumanisation-time-war-hysteria
Pak’s Disinformation Campaign Continues, How Their Media Is Twisting Truth – NDTV, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/from-shooting-down-drones-to-civilian-deaths-how-pakistani-media-is-twisting-truth-operation-sindoor-8370085
Indian Officials Repress Dissent Following India-Pakistan Hostilities …, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/21/indian-officials-repress-dissent-following-india-pakistan-hostilities
Disagreement as a way to study misinformation and its effects, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/disagreement-as-a-way-to-study-misinformation-and-its-effects/
From journalism to jingoism: For the Indian media, truth be damned – Prism – DAWN.COM, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.dawn.com/news/1909699
Indian Media Fuels Panic with Disinformation | Al Jazeera Media Institute, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://institute.aljazeera.net/en/ajr/article/indian-media-fuels-panic-disinformation
Misinformation war rages online amid India-Pakistan tensions | RNZ News, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/562093/misinformation-war-rages-online-amid-india-pakistan-tensions
3 out of Facebook’s 7 fact-checking partners have shared … – Alt News, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.altnews.in/3-out-of-facebooks-7-fact-checking-partners-have-shared-misinformation-post-pulwama/
Censorship Surge in India Undermines Independent Journalism – Frontline – The Hindu, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/india-pakistan-tensions-censorship-press-freedom-social-media-ban/article69560634.ece
Indian Chronicles – EU DisinfoLab, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://www.disinfo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Indian-chronicles_FULLREPORT.pdf
subsequent investigation: deep dive into a 15-year operation targeting the EU and UN to serve Indian interests – Princeton Dataspace, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://dataspace.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp01b8515r462
Issue Brief on “India’s Disinformation Network: A Challenge to Global Information Integrity”, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://issi.org.pk/issue-brief-on-indias-disinformation-network-a-challenge-to-global-information-integrity/

EU DisinfoLab Uses Historical WHOIS Data to Cast a Light on Indian Chronicles, accessed on May 25, 2025, https://main.whoisxmlapi.com/success-stories/eu-disinfolab-uses-historical-whois-data-to-cast-a-light-on-indian-chronicles

https://aljazeera.com

The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News

The News International – latest news and breaking news about Pakistan, world, sports, cricket, business, entertainment, weather, education, lifestyle; …

May 30, 2025

The Indispensable Role of International Students in Australia’s Post-COVID Economic Recovery and Labor Market Stability

Australia’s international education sector proved instrumental in the nation’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery, acting as a significant counter-recessionary force. Following a sharp decline during border closures, the sector experienced a robust rebound, contributing tens of billions of dollars to the economy and driving a substantial portion of national GDP growth. International students, through their tuition fees and extensive living expenditures, have consistently ranked among Australia’s top exports. Beyond this direct financial injection, their crucial role in alleviating widespread labor shortages across various sectors, particularly in casual and entry-level positions, further underscored their economic indispensability. Despite these undeniable economic benefits, public discourse, often shaped by media narratives, frequently misrepresents international students, attributing to them issues such as the housing crisis or job competition, which are largely unsupported by empirical evidence. This report provides a factual account of their contributions and addresses these prevailing misconceptions.

The Indispensable Role of International Students in Australia’s Economy

International students are not just visitors; they are a pivotal force in Australia’s economic vitality, especially highlighted in the post-COVID recovery. Their contributions extend far beyond campus, shaping the nation’s prosperity and resilience.

$51.03B

Education Export Value (FY 2023-24)

A new peak, underscoring massive financial injection.

0.8%

Contribution to GDP Growth (2023)

Driving half of Australia’s economic expansion in the year.

Key Role

In Averting Deeper Recession

“Almost singlehandedly kept us out of recession” – Universities Australia (2023).

An Economic Powerhouse

The international education sector has consistently been one of Australia’s top export earners, demonstrating robust growth and resilience. Its financial impact is a cornerstone of the national economy.

Education Export Income Trend

The sector saw a dip during COVID but rebounded strongly, reaching new heights.

Top Export Earner (FY 2023-24)

International education stands tall among Australia’s primary exports.

Beyond Tuition: A Multiplier Effect

The economic contribution of international students extends far beyond their tuition fees. Their spending on goods, services, and living expenses creates a significant ripple effect across the Australian economy.

Student Expenditure Breakdown (FY 2023-24)

A significant portion of student spending directly supports local businesses.

Fueling the Economy Through Work

~25%

Of Total Student Expenditure is Self-Funded

This amounts to approximately $13 BILLION (FY 2023-24) earned through local employment, directly reinvested into the Australian economy. This demonstrates a reinforcing cycle of economic activity.

Backbone of the Workforce

Post-COVID, Australia faced severe labor shortages. International students proved crucial in filling these gaps, particularly in essential services and the “odd job market,” stabilizing industries and supporting economic continuity.

250,000

Australian Jobs Supported in 2023

This is more than double the jobs in the iron ore, coal, and gas mining sectors combined, highlighting the sector’s vast employment footprint.

🧑‍🎓 > ⛏️

Key Policy Response: March 2020

Recognizing their vital role, the government temporarily relaxed work hour limits for students in essential services like aged care and supermarkets to address critical staff shortages during the pandemic’s peak.

Critical Support Across Key Sectors

International students provided indispensable labor in various sectors facing acute shortages:

🍽️

Hospitality & Retail

Filled part-time, casual roles; vital for business operations.

👵🏽

Aged Care

Ensured continuity of care during staff shortages.

👶

Childcare

Provided crucial support for childcare services.

✈️

Tourism

Underpinned workforce needs as the sector recovered.

The Disconnect: Narratives vs. Reality

Despite their significant economic contributions, international students are often unfairly blamed in media and public discourse for broader societal issues. This section contrasts common narratives with evidence-based realities.

Narrative: “Students Cause Housing Crisis”

Often blamed for rising rents and housing shortages.

Reality:

Constitute only 6% of renters nationally.
Nearly 40% live in dedicated student housing.
Research (UniSA 2024) found no statistical link to the rental crisis.
An increase of 10,000 students correlated with a $1 decrease in weekly rents (other factors controlled).

Narrative: “Students Take Aussie Jobs”

Concerns raised about job competition and displacing domestic workers.

Reality:

Australia faced severe labor shortages post-COVID (2nd worst in developed world).
Students fill critical gaps, especially in hospitality, retail, aged care.
85% of businesses couldn’t operate at full capacity due to shortages.
Government actively encouraged student return to address workforce shortages.

Challenging Misrepresentation

“Media discourses tend to ‘commodify’ international students, valuing them for fees while marginalizing them… Students are often characterized as ‘temporary, expendable, or invisible’.” (Academic Research)

Initiatives like the film “Phoenix” see students reclaiming their narratives, offering lived experiences to challenge one-dimensional portrayals and foster recognition as integral community members.

Valuing Our Vital Contributors

The evidence is clear: international students are indispensable to Australia’s economic prosperity and social fabric. Their contributions as a major export earner, spenders in the local economy, and vital members of the workforce helped Australia navigate the post-COVID recovery and avoid a deeper recession.

It is crucial for public discourse and policy to reflect these realities, moving beyond misinformed narratives. A welcoming and supportive environment for international students is not just a matter of fairness; it’s an investment in Australia’s ongoing economic strength and global competitiveness.

1. Introduction: Australia’s Economic Resilience in the Wake of COVID-19

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented Australia with an unprecedented economic challenge. The nation experienced a significant downturn, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declining by a record 7.0% in the June quarter of 2020, leading to a 1.1% fall for the year to December 2020.¹ This marked the largest quarterly contraction on record, unequivocally pushing the Australian economy into recession and highlighting the severity of the initial economic impact.¹ This critical context establishes the economic vulnerability Australia faced, providing the baseline against which the subsequent recovery and the role of key sectors can be measured.

Sectors with a high dependence on the international movement of people, such as tourism, education, and airlines, were particularly affected by the stringent lockdowns, quarantine measures, and travel restrictions implemented to protect public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.¹ The severe curtailment of international travel and a significant reduction in net overseas migration were explicitly identified as key sources of economic perturbation.² These restrictions prevented many businesses from operating at full capacity and forced numerous workers to cease employment or transition to remote work.²

In response to these strong negative economic consequences, both federal and state governments instituted various stimulus measures. These actions were designed to support businesses and maintain household finances, aiming to bolster the economy’s resilience against the pandemic’s shocks.¹ Australia’s economic resilience is inherently tied to the performance of its major export industries. While traditional exports like mining (iron ore, coal) demonstrated relative stability and continued to thrive amidst the disruptions ¹, the services sector, particularly international education, faced profound disruption due to closed borders and halted travel.¹ The subsequent rebound and recovery of these severely affected sectors, especially international education, were therefore critical for the broader national economic recovery and for averting a deeper or more prolonged recession. The speed and magnitude of their recovery directly influenced the overall pace and strength of Australia’s economic rebound.

2. International Education: A Cornerstone of Australia’s Economy

International education has a long-standing and profound significance as a major contributor to Australia’s economy. Its historical trajectory demonstrates a consistently growing industry, rather than a transient phenomenon. As early as 2007, education services exports had already grown at an average annual rate of approximately 14% in volume terms since 1982, displacing leisure travel services as Australia’s largest service export.⁶ By 2007, it had become Australia’s third largest export overall, behind only coal and iron ore, underscoring its established and substantial economic footprint.⁶

A critical aspect of this economic contribution is its onshore delivery. The vast majority of this export value – approximately 97% of $12.6 billion in 2007 – was generated through foreign students studying within Australia.⁶ This highlights that the economic activity is primarily injected directly into the Australian economy, stimulating local businesses and employment across various sectors, rather than being an offshore service.

Post-COVID-19 Rebound and Current Economic Standing

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated border closures severely impacted the international education sector. Its value approximately halved from $40.3 billion in 2019 to $22.5 billion in 2021.⁴ This dramatic reduction sent significant economic shockwaves through universities, which had developed a substantial reliance on international student fees.⁴

However, the sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and a robust rebound following the reopening of borders. In 2022, international education added over $29 billion to the economy, with the majority of this contribution coming from onshore students.⁷ This recovery continued strongly, with the sector contributing $48 billion to the economy in 2023, positioning it as the second biggest export behind mining.¹⁰ By the financial year 2023-24, the value of education as an export reached an all-time peak of $51.032 billion.⁹ This rapid and substantial recovery underscores its vital role in the national economic rebound.

The significance of this rebound extends beyond mere recovery; it became a critical driving force for Australia’s overall economic growth. Universities Australia explicitly states that international education “drove half of Australia’s economic growth in 2023,” contributing 0.8% of the total 1.5% GDP increase.¹⁰ Furthermore, it is asserted that the sector “almost singlehandedly kept us out of recession” in 2023.¹⁵ These strong statements indicate a direct causal link between the sector’s performance and the avoidance of a deeper or prolonged economic downturn.

It is worth noting that the ranking of international education among Australia’s top exports can fluctuate. While a 2007 report identified it as the third largest export ⁶, more recent data from calendar year 2024 and financial year 2023/24 places it as the fourth largest export.⁹ Conversely, 2023 data indicated it was the second biggest export behind mining.¹⁰ These variations are not contradictory but reflect the dynamic nature of Australia’s export landscape, influenced by fluctuating commodity prices (iron ore, coal, natural gas) and the specific reporting period (calendar vs. financial year). The consistent theme across all available data is that international education remains unequivocally among Australia’s top few exports (top 2, 3, or 4), generating tens of billions of dollars annually, which strongly affirms its profound and enduring economic importance as a cornerstone of the Australian economy.

Breakdown of International Student Expenditure

The economic contribution of international students extends significantly beyond tuition fees, demonstrating a broad economic ripple effect. As early as 2007, tuition fees accounted for only 39% of overseas student expenditure, with the substantial balance (61%) representing spending on a wide array of goods and services such as food, accommodation, transport, and entertainment.⁶ This pattern of broad economic stimulation continued post-COVID. In 2020, over half of the export income generated from international students came from their spending on goods and services, with 45% attributable to tuition fees.⁸ More recently, in financial year 2023-24, $30.2 billion was generated from goods and services expenditure, compared to $20.6 billion from tuition fees.¹³ This substantial spending on daily necessities and leisure activities directly injects capital into a much wider array of local businesses, creating a multiplier effect where money circulates throughout the economy. For example, student spending at a local cafe supports the cafe owner, their staff (baristas, cooks), their suppliers (food producers, transport companies), and so on. This broad economic circulation is crucial for understanding how the sector contributed to overall national recovery and resilience, far beyond just university budgets.

3. International Students: Catalysts for Post-COVID Economic Recovery and Labor Market Stability

Australia’s economy was undeniably pushed into recession by the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by a significant decline in GDP.¹ The robust and rapid rebound of the international education sector was instrumental in mitigating this economic impact and driving the subsequent recovery. Universities Australia explicitly highlights that international students “drove half of Australia’s economic growth last year” (referring to 2023), contributing 0.8% to the overall 1.5% GDP increase.¹⁰ This substantial contribution led to claims that the sector “almost singlehandedly kept us out of recession” in 2023.¹⁵ Such strong causal language underscores the critical role international education played in preventing a deeper or more prolonged economic downturn.

Government policies actively facilitated the return of international students, demonstrating a clear recognition of their economic and labor market value. The Morrison Government offered visa rebates to international students who returned in early 2022, and the Albanese Government prioritized clearing visa backlogs to accelerate their return.¹⁰ Both administrations explicitly encouraged the return of international students to “address critical workforce shortages and boost the economy”.¹⁰

Addressing Critical Workforce Shortages (“Odd Job Market”)

Post-COVID, Australia faced widespread and severe labor shortages, which were ranked as the second most severe in the developed world.¹⁷ This critical issue resulted in approximately 85% of businesses being unable to operate at full capacity, particularly impacting sectors like restaurants, cafes, and shopping malls.¹⁷ National shortages were identified in at least 332 occupations, including critical areas such as healthcare (with a projected need for 250,000 additional skilled healthcare workers by 2027 and a shortage of 70,000 nurses by 2035) and skilled trades like electricians and engineers.¹⁷

International students played a vital and flexible role in filling these gaps, especially in sectors heavily reliant on casual and part-time labor, often referred to as the “odd job market.” They are described as “critical” for supporting roles in tourism, hospitality, retail, aged care, and childcare.¹⁶ Many recent migrants, including international students and working holidaymakers, frequently take “lower-wage jobs” ¹⁷, which are essential for the smooth functioning of these industries. The presence of international students in these roles is not merely about them finding employment; it reflects their strategic utility during a crisis.

During the immediate crisis phase of the pandemic, the Australian government recognized this critical need. In March 2020, temporary changes were announced to relax work hour limits for international students in essential services like aged care and major supermarkets, specifically to address emerging staff shortages as other workers took leave or quarantined.¹⁹ This policy adjustment directly enabled students to significantly increase their labor market participation in areas of acute demand. This governmental action highlights a deliberate policy choice, indicating that international students were not merely a passive workforce but an active solution deployed by the government to mitigate economic disruption. This points to a deeper role for international students as economic shock absorbers. When the domestic workforce faced unprecedented disruption (due to illness, quarantine, or border closures), international students provided a flexible, responsive, and readily available labor pool. Their presence helped maintain essential services (such as aged care and supermarkets) and operational capacity in casual-heavy industries (like hospitality and retail), directly contributing to national resilience and preventing a more severe economic collapse. This demonstrates their essential function in maintaining the continuity of vital services and business operations during a crisis, thereby stabilizing the workforce.

Industry bodies such as the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have vocally highlighted the indispensable role of international students for the $430 billion retail sector, not only as consumers but also as workers. They emphasize students’ crucial contribution to “part-time and casual roles” and their importance in solving the “retail labour crisis,” citing high job vacancies (25,600 nationally).¹⁸ The international education sector, through both direct and indirect employment, supported approximately 250,000 Australians in 2023. This figure is more than double the number employed in the iron ore, coal, and gas mining sectors combined ¹⁶, underscoring the sector’s substantial job creation capacity across the broader economy.

The economic contribution of international students is multifaceted. They serve as a major export industry through their tuition fees and living expenses ¹⁰, and simultaneously constitute a significant component of the labor force, particularly in casual and lower-wage jobs.¹⁶ A crucial connection between these two contributions is revealed by the ABS, which estimates that around a quarter of the total expenditure (approximately $13 billion in the 2023-24 financial year) is funded by international students working in Australia for Australian employers.¹² This means that a substantial portion of the export income attributed to international students is directly generated from their work within Australia. Their labor market participation directly enhances their overall export value, creating a reinforcing cycle of economic benefit. This integrated contribution makes international students uniquely valuable to the Australian economy, providing both a substantial foreign income stream (boosting national accounts) and a flexible, responsive workforce that can adapt to fluctuating labor demands, especially in the “odd job market” that domestic workers may not always fill.

The following table provides a detailed overview of how international students contributed to addressing critical workforce shortages in key sectors post-COVID.

Table 2: International Student Contribution to Key Workforce Sectors (Post-COVID)

Sector	Nature of Labor Shortage Addressed	Evidence of Student Contribution	Relevant Data Points / Policy Changes
Hospitality & Retail	General vacancies, part-time & casual roles, lower-wage jobs, inability of businesses to operate at full capacity	Critical for supporting part-time and casual roles, backbone of dynamic trading environments.¹⁸ Many international students take lower-wage jobs.¹⁷	85% of businesses unable to operate at full capacity due to labor shortages; 25,600 retail job vacancies nationally.¹⁷
Aged Care	Critical staff shortages, need for continuity of care as domestic workers quarantined/took leave	Temporary relaxation of visa work limits for international students already employed in aged care.¹⁹ Students helped fill critical staff shortages.¹⁹	Policy change announced March 2020.¹⁹ Projected need for 250,000 additional skilled healthcare workers by 2027; shortage of 70,000 nurses by 2035.¹⁷
Childcare	General staff shortages	International students are crucial for supporting roles.¹⁶	N/A (specific data not provided in snippets, but acknowledged as a sector supported).¹⁶
Tourism	Workforce support, particularly in casual roles	Underpins tourism sector.¹⁶ Businesses reliant on international travelers stood down staff due to collapse in demand.⁵	N/A (specific data not provided in snippets, but acknowledged as a sector supported).¹⁶
Overall Economy	Addressing critical workforce shortages, boosting economy	Government encouraged return of international students to address shortages.¹⁰ Supported 250,000 jobs nationally in 2023.¹⁰	250,000 jobs supported by international education (more than double mining combined).¹⁶

4. The Disconnect: Media Narratives vs. Economic Realities

Despite their profound and multifaceted economic contributions, international students are frequently subjected to negative media portrayals and public blame for systemic societal issues. This creates a significant disconnect between their empirically verifiable economic value and their public perception.

One of the most prevalent negative narratives positions international students as culprits in Australia’s housing crisis. They are often prominently blamed for ostensibly contributing to rising housing costs and the rental crisis.¹⁵ This narrative has been echoed by politicians, including the Treasurer, who suggested that increased numbers of foreign students “puts pressure on prices and rents”.²¹ However, academic research and industry data strongly challenge this assertion. A 2024 study from the University of South Australia found that international students are “not the culprits of the rental crisis” and “only constituted a small part of the puzzle”.²¹ This research, based on data from 2017 to 2024, found “no statistical relationship between international members and the housing crisis” and that an increase of 10,000 international students actually led to a corresponding decrease of $1 in weekly rents when other factors were controlled.²¹ The Student Accommodation Council further supports this, noting that international students make up just 6% of renters nationally, with almost 40% living in student housing.²¹ They are often at a disadvantage in the private rental market due to lack of rental history or immediate income statements.²¹ This suggests that the housing crisis is driven by “very complicated macro-level socio-economic reasons” rather than student numbers.²¹

Similarly, media narratives and political rhetoric have fostered concerns about international students creating job competition ²⁰ and framed them as “economic threats” ²⁴, implying they displace domestic workers. This contrasts sharply with the documented reality of severe labor shortages across Australia, particularly in sectors like hospitality, retail, and aged care, where international students are crucial for filling identified gaps.¹⁶

Furthermore, academic research reveals that Australian media, exemplified by current affairs programs like “Four Corners,” has misrepresented international students’ English language proficiency. These portrayals often assign them “responsibility for declining standards at universities” through simplistic and naive representations of their language use as problematic.²⁵ This discourse contributes to their discursive exclusion from the broader societal narrative.

Beyond specific issues, international students are frequently characterized in media and public discourse as “temporary, expendable, or invisible”.²⁴ Academic analysis indicates that media discourses tend to “commodify” international students, valuing them primarily for their fees, while simultaneously marginalizing them as the “excluded ‘other’” in Australian society.²⁷ This leads to a painful juxtaposition where they are welcomed for their financial contribution but simultaneously devalued and subjected to overt and covert racism, including being “spat at, yelled at with racist slurs, and being told to ‘go back home’”.²⁴

The impact of government messaging has also played a role in shaping these perceptions. The Australian Prime Minister’s public suggestion for international students to “go home” during the pandemic contributed to a sense of abandonment and undermined Australia’s reputation as an attractive destination.⁸ Such statements, along with policy changes like increasing visa fees ¹⁵, send a clear message that can contradict the economic reality of their value.

Research from the Australian National University (ANU) highlights that media narratives are often more effective at influencing public opinion than facts.³⁰ When people are exposed to negative immigration narratives, it reduces public support for increasing or maintaining current migration levels.³⁰ This underscores the importance of impartial media reporting, as emotive narratives can significantly shift public views and, consequently, political and policy outcomes.³⁰

In response to these pervasive negative narratives, there have been efforts to present a more balanced and fact-based perspective. Studies have explicitly refuted the claim that international students are the primary cause of the housing crisis.²¹ Universities Australia and other industry bodies consistently issue statements highlighting the substantial economic contributions of international education, emphasizing its role in GDP growth and job creation.⁷ Furthermore, international students themselves, through initiatives like the film “Phoenix,” are actively taking back their stories, offering lived experiences to challenge flat, villainous, or victimized portrayals.²⁴ These counter-narratives aim to foster recognition of international students as equals, colleagues, neighbors, and community builders, rather than merely fee-payers or temporary migrants.²⁴

Conclusions

The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that international students played an indispensable and multifaceted role in Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery, serving as a significant force in averting a deeper recession. Their contribution extends far beyond tuition fees, acting as a major export industry that injected tens of billions of dollars into the Australian economy through diverse expenditures on goods and services, thereby generating a substantial multiplier effect across various sectors. The sector’s rapid rebound to over $51 billion in export value by FY 2023-24 and its role in driving half of Australia’s economic growth in 2023 underscore its critical importance as a cornerstone of national prosperity.

Crucially, international students also served as vital economic shock absorbers and workforce stabilizers during a period of severe labor shortages. They filled critical gaps in essential services and casual-heavy industries such as hospitality, retail, aged care, and childcare, enabling businesses to operate and maintaining service continuity. Government policies that facilitated their return and relaxed work hour limits during the pandemic explicitly acknowledged their indispensable contribution to the labor market. The dual economic contribution—as a major export and a flexible workforce—creates a powerful reinforcing cycle, with a significant portion of their expenditure directly funded by their work within Australia.

Despite these undeniable economic and social benefits, public discourse and media narratives frequently misrepresent international students. They are often unfairly scapegoated for systemic issues like the housing crisis, despite empirical evidence demonstrating minimal correlation. Similarly, narratives of job competition contradict the reality of widespread labor shortages that students actively help address. Such misrepresentations, sometimes amplified by political rhetoric, contribute to their marginalization and can undermine Australia’s reputation as a welcoming study destination.

Moving forward, it is imperative for policymakers and public discourse to align with the economic realities. Recognizing and valuing the comprehensive contributions of international students, beyond their financial input, is essential for fostering a stable, resilient, and inclusive Australian economy. Policies should be informed by data that acknowledges their role in both national income generation and critical workforce support, rather than being swayed by misinformed narratives. Maintaining a supportive and welcoming environment for international students is not merely a matter of social equity but a fundamental component of Australia’s ongoing economic strength and global competitiveness.

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May 29, 2025

Everyday Life in Pakistan: A Closer Look

The Cultural Tapestry of Pakistan

Pakistan’s cultural heritage is a vibrant mosaic, reflecting the diversity of its people and their traditions. The nation’s cultural tapestry is woven from the threads of various ethnic groups, including Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Baloch people. Each group brings its own unique customs, languages, and traditions, contributing to the rich cultural landscape that defines everyday life in Pakistan.

One of the most significant cultural practices in Pakistan is the celebration of Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan. This festival is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and sharing. Homes are decorated, special meals are prepared, and people dress in their finest clothes. Eid fosters a strong sense of community and solidarity, as families and friends come together to celebrate.

Another vibrant festival is Basant, celebrated in Punjab. This festival, also known as the kite festival, marks the arrival of spring. The sky fills with colorful kites, and the air is filled with music and laughter. Basant is an expression of joy and a celebration of nature’s renewal, bringing people from all walks of life together in a shared experience of happiness.

The Shandur Polo Festival, held in the northern regions, is another cultural highlight. Known as the “King of Games,” polo has a long history in Pakistan. The festival takes place on the world’s highest polo ground and attracts enthusiasts from around the globe. It showcases not only the sport but also the traditional music and dance of the region, adding to the cultural richness of the event.

Traditional weddings in Pakistan are grand affairs, reflecting the country’s deep-rooted customs. These weddings often span several days, with various ceremonies such as the Mehndi, Baraat, and Walima. Each ritual is imbued with cultural significance, from the intricate henna designs to the elaborate bridal attire. These weddings are a testament to the importance of family and community, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage.

The influence of Pakistan’s diverse ethnic groups is evident in its languages, music, and art. Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi are just a few of the languages spoken across the country, each with its own literary and musical traditions. This linguistic diversity enriches the nation’s cultural fabric and fosters a sense of pride and identity among its people.

In essence, the cultural elements of Pakistan shape the daily lives of its citizens, fostering a sense of community and national identity. The vibrant celebrations, traditional practices, and diverse ethnic influences create a dynamic cultural landscape that is both deeply rooted in history and continually evolving.

Daily Routines and Social Dynamics

Everyday life in Pakistan is a vibrant tapestry woven with cultural traditions, familial ties, and community interactions. A typical day for an average Pakistani begins early. The bustling streets of major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad come alive as people head to work or school. In urban areas, the day often starts with a hearty breakfast, followed by a commute that can be both challenging and time-consuming due to traffic congestion. Public transportation, though available, is often crowded, and many rely on motorcycles or cars for their daily travel.

Work hours in Pakistan typically extend from 9 AM to 5 PM, with a customary break for lunch and prayer. The workplace environment is generally formal, with a strong emphasis on hierarchy and respect for seniority. Education is highly valued, and students attend school in the morning, often followed by extra tuition classes in the evening to excel in competitive exams.

Leisure activities vary but often include spending time with family, watching television, and socializing with friends. Cricket, being a national passion, is a common pastime, with matches frequently played in local grounds and streets. In rural areas, the daily routine is more centered around agricultural activities, with families working together in fields and tending to livestock.

The role of family and community is paramount in Pakistani society. Extended families often live together, providing a support network that is crucial for managing daily life. Social bonds are reinforced through communal living and regular gatherings, where food plays a central role. Events like weddings, religious holidays, and festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm, strengthening communal ties.

Urbanization has significantly impacted life in major cities. While it has brought economic opportunities and advancements in infrastructure, it has also introduced challenges such as housing shortages, pollution, and strained public services. In contrast, rural life, though simpler and closer to nature, faces its own set of difficulties, including limited access to healthcare and education.

Despite these challenges, Pakistanis exhibit remarkable resilience and adaptability. Economic pressures and daily struggles are met with a spirit of perseverance and a strong sense of community support. This resilience is a testament to the enduring social fabric that binds the people of Pakistan together in their everyday lives.

June 26, 2024
Everyday Life in Pakistan: A Closer Look

Cultural and Social Norms

Everyday life in Pakistan is profoundly influenced by its rich cultural heritage and deeply rooted social norms. The fabric of Pakistani society is woven with traditional values and customs that have been passed down through generations. Family dynamics play a central role, with an emphasis on respect for elders and strong familial bonds. The extended family structure is prevalent, fostering a sense of community and support among relatives.

Hospitality is another cornerstone of Pakistani culture. Welcoming guests with warmth and generosity is a common practice, reflecting the importance placed on building and maintaining social relationships. Offering tea or a meal to visitors is not just customary but a symbol of goodwill and respect.

Religious practices are integral to everyday life, with Islam being the predominant faith. Daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and attending Friday prayers at the mosque are routine for many Pakistanis. Religious festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha are celebrated with great fervor, bringing families and communities together in joyous observance.

Pakistan’s cultural mosaic is enriched by its diverse ethnic groups and languages. From the Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Baloch to the smaller communities like the Hazaras and Kalash, each group contributes to the country’s cultural tapestry. This diversity is reflected in the multitude of languages spoken, including Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi, among others.

Festivals and celebrations are vital aspects of Pakistani culture. Events such as Basant, marking the arrival of spring with kite flying, and the vibrant celebrations of weddings, characterized by traditional music and dance, showcase the country’s festive spirit.

Gender roles and expectations, traditionally defined by patriarchal norms, are gradually evolving. While men have traditionally been seen as the primary breadwinners, women’s roles are expanding beyond domestic spheres. Increasingly, women are pursuing higher education and careers, contributing to a shift towards gender equality in contemporary Pakistan.

Daily Activities and Lifestyle

The daily activities and lifestyle of people in Pakistan are shaped by a rich blend of tradition, culture, and modern influences. Typically, a day begins early with a morning prayer for many, followed by breakfast which often includes traditional foods like parathas, nihari, and various types of bread. Urban areas, such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, are bustling with activity as people head to work or school, usually by car, motorbike, or public transportation like buses and rickshaws. In contrast, rural areas witness a slower pace of life, where agriculture remains a primary occupation, and transportation is more often on foot or by bicycle.

Work life in Pakistan varies significantly between urban and rural areas. In cities, a diverse range of professions exists, from corporate jobs to entrepreneurial ventures. The education system is robust, with numerous schools, colleges, and universities offering a wide array of programs. In rural regions, the focus is often on farming and local trades, though education is still valued, with many children attending village schools.

Leisure activities and entertainment are integral parts of life in Pakistan. Cricket is the most popular sport, with matches drawing large crowds and fostering a sense of community. Other common pastimes include watching television, with dramas and news programs being particularly favored. Social media and modern technology have also made significant inroads, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp being widely used for communication and entertainment.

Food plays a central role in Pakistani culture, with dining habits reflecting both regional diversity and shared traditions. Meals often feature a variety of spices and flavors, with dishes such as biryani, kebabs, and curries being particularly popular. Dining is a social activity, frequently involving extended family gatherings and communal eating.

The lifestyle differences between urban and rural areas are pronounced, yet both are deeply influenced by cultural norms and values. Urban residents often lead fast-paced lives with greater access to amenities and modern conveniences, while rural inhabitants maintain a closer connection to traditional practices and the natural environment. Despite these differences, modern technology has bridged many gaps, bringing new opportunities and challenges to all Pakistanis.

June 26, 2024
A Day in the Life: Everyday Views of Pakistan

Morning Hustle and Bustle in Pakistani Cities

The mornings in Pakistan’s major cities—Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad—are a blend of tradition and modernity, creating a unique and vibrant atmosphere. As dawn breaks, the call to prayer, known locally as the Azaan, resonates through the air, marking the beginning of a new day. This ritual is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the country and serves as a spiritual reminder for many.

As the sun rises higher, the streets begin to fill with a bustling crowd. In Karachi, the largest city, people from all walks of life can be seen heading to work. Whether they’re navigating the urban landscape in rickshaws, motorbikes, or the iconic yellow buses, the city’s dynamic energy is palpable. Lahore, known for its rich history and vibrant culture, mirrors this activity. The scent of street food, from samosas to naan, mingles with the morning air, enticing passersby with the promise of a hearty breakfast.

In Islamabad, the capital city, the pace is slightly more measured but equally lively. Here, the morning routine is punctuated by the sight of children in neatly pressed uniforms heading to school, their backpacks in tow. Parents accompany them or wave them off at bus stops, contributing to the city’s daily rhythm. The marketplaces start to buzz with early shoppers and vendors setting up stalls, selling everything from fresh produce to household items.

Transportation in these cities is as diverse as their populations. In addition to the ubiquitous rickshaws and buses, one can also observe a growing number of private cars, reflecting the country’s economic development. Cyclists weave through traffic, and pedestrians navigate the sidewalks, all part of the intricate tapestry of morning life in Pakistan.

The mornings in Pakistani cities are not just a time of routine but a reflection of the country’s rich traditions and modern dynamism. Each city, with its unique flavor, contributes to the collective experience of what it means to start a day in Pakistan, encapsulating the essence of its people and their way of life.

Evening Leisure and Social Life in Pakistan

As the sun sets in Pakistan, the streets come alive with a vibrant mix of activities, offering a glimpse into the country’s rich social fabric. Evenings in Pakistan are often a time for relaxation and socialization, where people of all ages engage in a variety of leisure activities. A common sight in both urban and rural areas is families gathering for an evening tea, often at local chai dhabas. These small tea shops are more than just places to enjoy a cup of tea; they serve as social hubs where people discuss everything from daily life to national politics.

Family gatherings are a cornerstone of Pakistani social life. It is not uncommon for friends and relatives to invite each other over for dinner, where hospitality is shown through elaborate meals. The importance of hospitality in Pakistani culture cannot be overstated; it is a key aspect of social interaction and community bonding. Shopping malls and parks also become bustling centers of activity, especially in larger cities. Families and friends often visit these places to unwind, shop, or simply enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed environment.

The nightlife in Pakistani cities is an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary experiences. Food streets and cafes are particularly popular, offering a wide range of culinary delights that draw people from all walks of life. These venues are not just about food; they are places where people come to socialize, listen to live music, and enjoy various forms of entertainment. Traditional pastimes like cricket matches are another significant aspect of evening leisure. Whether it’s a local game in a neighborhood park or a national match broadcasted on big screens, cricket brings communities together in a shared love for the sport.

Cultural festivals and events also play a crucial role in enriching Pakistan’s social life. These occasions, often celebrated with traditional music, dance, and food, provide an opportunity for people to connect with their cultural roots while enjoying the company of their community. In essence, the evening leisure and social life in Pakistan is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, reflecting the country’s diverse and dynamic social landscape.

June 26, 2024
Everyday Life in Pakistan: A Comprehensive View

Daily Routines and Cultural Practices

Everyday life in Pakistan is a blend of routine activities and rich cultural practices, reflecting the country’s diverse heritage. The day typically starts early, especially in rural areas, with the Fajr prayer at dawn. This religious observance sets a peaceful tone for the day ahead. Following the prayer, many people in both urban and rural settings engage in their morning routines, which often include chai (tea) and a light breakfast, such as paratha (flatbread) or naan with eggs or yogurt.

Work schedules in Pakistan vary depending on the region and occupation. In urban areas, the workday usually begins around 9 AM and ends by 6 PM. Offices, schools, and businesses follow a structured schedule, emphasizing punctuality and productivity. Conversely, in rural areas, the day is often dictated by agricultural activities and natural light, starting at sunrise and ending at sunset. Farmers and laborers work tirelessly in fields, tending to crops and livestock.

Evening activities in Pakistan are deeply influenced by cultural practices. The Maghrib prayer at sunset marks a transition from work to family time. Dinner is a significant meal, often shared with extended family members. Traditional meals, such as biryani, kebabs, and lentil dishes, are common, reflecting the rich culinary heritage. Family gatherings during dinner foster strong familial bonds and provide an opportunity to discuss the day’s events.

Religious practices play a crucial role in shaping daily routines. Five daily prayers (Salat) are a fundamental aspect of life for many Pakistanis, influencing their schedules and activities. Additionally, cultural practices such as hospitality and respect for elders are deeply ingrained, dictating social interactions and behavior.

There is a notable contrast between daily routines in urban and rural areas. Urban life is characterized by a faster pace, modern amenities, and a variety of professional opportunities. In contrast, rural life is more traditional, with a slower pace and a strong reliance on agricultural practices. Despite these differences, the coexistence of modernization and tradition is evident across Pakistani society, creating a unique and harmonious blend.

Social Dynamics and Community Life

In Pakistan, social dynamics and community life play a pivotal role in shaping everyday experiences. The cornerstone of this social structure is the family, which forms the fundamental unit of society. Families in Pakistan are typically extended, with multiple generations living under one roof, fostering strong intergenerational bonds and a deep sense of responsibility towards one another. The role of family extends beyond immediate relatives to include a close-knit network of neighbors and social groups, all of whom contribute to the communal fabric.

Hospitality is a revered tradition in Pakistani culture. It is customary for households to warmly welcome guests, often going to great lengths to ensure their comfort and satisfaction. This practice not only emphasizes the importance of generosity but also strengthens community ties. Social gatherings, whether they are religious festivals, weddings, or simple get-togethers, are integral to maintaining social cohesion. These events provide an opportunity for individuals to connect, share experiences, and reinforce communal bonds.

Despite the strong sense of community, Pakistani society faces several challenges. Economic disparities and social issues, such as unemployment and inadequate access to education and healthcare, create significant obstacles. Nonetheless, communities often come together to support those in need, demonstrating remarkable resilience and solidarity. Local initiatives, charities, and informal support systems play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, highlighting the community’s commitment to collective well-being.

Technological advancements and social media have brought about significant changes in how communities interact. While traditional face-to-face interactions remain important, digital platforms have provided new avenues for communication and connection. Social media has enabled people to maintain relationships over long distances and has facilitated the exchange of ideas and information. However, it also presents challenges, such as the potential for misinformation and the impact on privacy. Balancing the benefits and drawbacks of technology is an ongoing process for Pakistani communities.

Overall, the social dynamics and community life in Pakistan are characterized by a strong sense of interconnectedness, mutual support, and adaptability in the face of challenges. These elements continue to shape the everyday lives of individuals, reinforcing the importance of community in Pakistani society.

June 26, 2024
Everyday Life in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Overview

Cultural and Social Dynamics

Pakistan’s rich cultural and social fabric is a tapestry woven from a diverse array of ethnic groups, languages, and traditions. The country is home to various ethnic communities, including Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Baloch, and many others. Each group brings its unique customs, attire, and languages, contributing to the nation’s vibrant cultural mosaic. Urdu, the national language, serves as a unifying medium for communication, while regional languages such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi further enrich the linguistic landscape.

The importance of family and community is deeply ingrained in Pakistani society. Extended families often live together, and social interactions are typically centered around family gatherings. Elders are highly respected, and their guidance is valued in both personal and communal affairs. Social customs often reflect this family-centric ethos, with frequent visits among relatives and friends being a common practice. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Pakistani culture, with guests often treated with the utmost respect and generosity, regardless of their background or relationship to the host.

Religious practices play a significant role in shaping the rhythm of everyday life in Pakistan. The majority of the population adheres to Islam, which influences many aspects of daily activities. For instance, the call to prayer (Adhan) punctuates the day, and it is common for individuals to pause their routines to fulfill their religious obligations. Festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and Ramadan are celebrated with great enthusiasm and are marked by communal prayers, feasts, and charitable acts. These occasions not only reinforce religious values but also strengthen social bonds within the community.

In addition to religious festivals, Pakistan also celebrates a range of cultural events, including Basant (the kite festival) and regional fairs, which showcase traditional music, dance, and cuisine. These festivities provide an opportunity for people to come together, transcending social and economic barriers, and fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

Overall, the cultural and social dynamics of Pakistan are characterized by a deep sense of community, respect for tradition, and a welcoming hospitality that leaves a lasting impression on visitors and residents alike.

Urban and Rural Lifestyles

Pakistan presents a vivid contrast between its urban and rural lifestyles, each offering a unique perspective on daily life. Urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are bustling hubs of activity. The pace of life in these cities is fast, driven by a myriad of job opportunities in diverse sectors such as finance, technology, and commerce. Transportation networks are extensive, with a mix of public buses, private taxis, and increasingly, ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem. Recreational activities abound in these metropolitan areas, with numerous parks, shopping malls, cinemas, and cultural venues providing ample entertainment options for city dwellers.

In stark contrast, rural life in Pakistan unfolds at a much slower pace, deeply rooted in tradition and community. Agriculture remains the cornerstone of the rural economy, with vast fields of wheat, rice, and cotton dominating the landscape. The infrastructure in rural areas often lags behind that of urban centers, with limited access to paved roads, reliable electricity, and clean water. Education and healthcare facilities are also less accessible, often requiring long travels to reach the nearest school or clinic.

Despite these disparities, technology is gradually bridging the gap between urban and rural settings. Mobile phones and internet access are becoming increasingly widespread, enabling rural residents to connect with the broader world, access information, and even participate in e-commerce. Government and non-governmental organizations are working towards improving infrastructure, education, and healthcare in these regions, aiming to uplift the quality of life for rural populations.

These differing environments significantly shape the daily experiences of Pakistani citizens. Urban residents enjoy a modern, dynamic lifestyle with greater access to amenities and opportunities, while rural inhabitants live a more serene, community-oriented life, closely connected to nature and agricultural practices. Both lifestyles contribute richly to the cultural tapestry of Pakistan, reflecting the diverse ways in which its people navigate the challenges and opportunities of everyday life.

June 26, 2024
Everyday Life in Pakistan: A Closer Look

Cultural and Social Dynamics

Pakistan is a country with a rich tapestry of cultural and social dynamics, characterized by a diversity of ethnic groups and languages. The major regions of Pakistan – Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan – each contribute uniquely to the national identity. Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi are among the many languages spoken, reflecting the country’s complex cultural mosaic.

The importance of family and community is deeply ingrained in everyday life in Pakistan. Family structures are typically extended, with multiple generations living under one roof. This collective living arrangement fosters a strong sense of belonging and mutual support. Community ties are equally significant, with neighbors often forming close-knit bonds, sharing joys and sorrows alike.

Traditional values play a pivotal role in shaping daily interactions and relationships in Pakistan. Respect for elders, hospitality, and maintaining social harmony are highly valued. However, modern influences are also evident, particularly in urban areas where Western lifestyles and values are increasingly embraced by the younger generation. This blend of traditional and modern values creates a dynamic social landscape.

Festivals and celebrations are integral to Pakistani life, providing a glimpse into the vibrant cultural ethos. Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha are major Islamic festivals celebrated with great fervor, involving communal prayers, feasts, and the giving of alms. Basant, a spring festival, is marked by kite-flying competitions, particularly in Lahore. Independence Day on August 14th is celebrated with patriotic zeal, featuring parades, flag hoisting ceremonies, and fireworks.

Local customs and dress codes reflect the diversity and regional identities within Pakistan. Traditional attire such as shalwar kameez is commonly worn, with variations in style and fabric based on regional preferences. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Pakistani culture, with guests often receiving a warm welcome and generous hospitality, underscoring the societal emphasis on respect and community.

Daily Routines and Lifestyle

In Pakistan, daily routines and lifestyles vary significantly between urban and rural areas, but certain elements are universally shared. In urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, the typical workday starts around 9:00 AM and ends by 6:00 PM, with a break for lunch. These cities are hubs for diverse professions, ranging from corporate jobs to entrepreneurial ventures. In contrast, rural areas often see a different rhythm, with agricultural work dominating daily life. Here, the day starts early, with farmers tending to their fields from sunrise, often working until late afternoon.

Education plays a pivotal role in shaping career paths in Pakistan. Urban areas boast a higher concentration of educational institutions, leading to a more diverse job market. In rural settings, access to education can be limited, influencing the types of jobs available. Nevertheless, there is a strong emphasis on education across the country, as families understand its importance in achieving better economic prospects.

Food is a cornerstone of Pakistani culture, and mealtime is a cherished part of the daily routine. Breakfast often includes parathas (flatbreads), eggs, and tea. Lunch and dinner are more elaborate affairs, featuring staples like biryani, kebabs, and nihari. Street food culture is vibrant, with vendors selling samosas, golgappas, and chaat, offering delicious and affordable options for all. Dining customs are deeply rooted in tradition, with meals often being a communal activity, bringing families and friends together.

Recreational activities are an essential part of life in Pakistan. Cricket is the most popular sport, with matches played in streets, parks, and stadiums nationwide. Music and local arts and crafts also play a significant role in the cultural tapestry. Traditional instruments like the tabla and harmonium are commonly used in musical performances, while local handicrafts, such as pottery and embroidery, reflect the rich cultural heritage.

Balancing work, family, and leisure is a key aspect of everyday life in Pakistan. The strong sense of community and cultural traditions ensure that despite the busy work schedules, there is always time for social gatherings, family dinners, and recreational activities. This balance fosters a well-rounded lifestyle, deeply rooted in the rich cultural fabric of the nation.

June 26, 2024
Kingsbury makes moguls history with 4th world title, beating Australia\’s Matt Graham | CBC Sports

Mikael Kingsbury is making history as the first man or woman to win four World Cup moguls titles in a single season. The Canadian skier, who hails from Deux-Montagnes, Que., achieved the feat after taking the top spot in the moguls event at Bakuriani, Georgia with a score of 89.82 points, edging out Australia’s Matt Graham (88.90) and current Olympic champion, Sweden’s Walter Wallberg (88.52).

Kingsbury, who holds the record for most World Cup moguls titles, said to reporters, “I came here without any coach, because I told myself, you know, I have five World Cup titles, why do I need a coach?” He has now won seven World Cup gold medals, more than any other person.

The double Olympic gold medalist in 2026 will be competing in the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Kingsbury’s reign of dominance continued in the World Cup finals in Japan, where he secured his 68th career podium finish and beat Akuma Horishima of Japan by a margin of 68 points.

In the women’s competition, France’s Perrine Laffont made history by becoming the first woman to win a World Cup medal since 2003. She won four shared moguls titles and two individual titles, breaking the record for most World Cup titles held by Canadian Jenn Heil and Tessa Worley.

At the #Bakuriani2023, Laffont wrote her name in the history books and with it became the best all-time leader board of the best female mogul skiers, joining Jenn Heil and Tessa Worley in the battle for Olympic gold.

The moguls season will conclude on March 17-20 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Jaelin Kauf became the first American to win a World Cup medal since Hannah Kearney in 2015. However, the United States holds the record for most Olympic moguls medals with 12.

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February 26, 2023

Category: Uncategorized

Introduction: The Evolving Landscape of Information Warfare

The May 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: A Case Study in Digital Deception

Nature and Scale of Disinformation from Indian Media

Impact on Domestic Public Perception and Tensions

Fact-Checking Efforts and Government Responses

The 2019 Pulwama-Balakot Episode: Precedent of Hyper-Partisan Media

Misinformation Tactics and Amplification by Indian Media

Sociopolitical Impact and Silencing Dissent

International Scrutiny: Foreign Media and Watchdog Perspectives

Condemnation of Indian Media Practices and Journalistic Integrity

Censorship and Press Freedom Concerns

The “Indian Chronicles”: A Deeper Dive into Long-Term Disinformation Campaigns

Overview of EU DisinfoLab’s Findings (Scale, Tactics, Longevity)

Connection to Anti-Pakistan and Kashmir Narratives

Conclusion

Works cited

An Economic Powerhouse

Education Export Income Trend

Top Export Earner (FY 2023-24)

Beyond Tuition: A Multiplier Effect

Student Expenditure Breakdown (FY 2023-24)

Fueling the Economy Through Work

Backbone of the Workforce

Key Policy Response: March 2020

Critical Support Across Key Sectors

The Disconnect: Narratives vs. Reality

Narrative: “Students Cause Housing Crisis”

Reality:

Narrative: “Students Take Aussie Jobs”

Reality:

Challenging Misrepresentation

Valuing Our Vital Contributors

1. Introduction: Australia’s Economic Resilience in the Wake of COVID-19

2. International Education: A Cornerstone of Australia’s Economy

Post-COVID-19 Rebound and Current Economic Standing

Breakdown of International Student Expenditure

3. International Students: Catalysts for Post-COVID Economic Recovery and Labor Market Stability

Addressing Critical Workforce Shortages (“Odd Job Market”)

4. The Disconnect: Media Narratives vs. Economic Realities

Conclusions

Works cited

The Cultural Tapestry of Pakistan

Daily Routines and Social Dynamics

Cultural and Social Norms

Daily Activities and Lifestyle

Morning Hustle and Bustle in Pakistani Cities

Evening Leisure and Social Life in Pakistan

Daily Routines and Cultural Practices

Social Dynamics and Community Life

Cultural and Social Dynamics

Urban and Rural Lifestyles

Cultural and Social Dynamics

Daily Routines and Lifestyle