Category: Report

Will FATF see Pakistan-based terror groups, or will it escape scrutiny again?

Abhinav Singh

Introduction The upcoming FATF Plenary in October 2026 will once again place global anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing frameworks under scrutiny. FATF’s October meeting is scheduled for 26-30 October in Paris, where member jurisdictions review measures taken against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. (FATF) Pakistan presents an important case for examination as, a month before […]

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BRICS Summit Disinformation: Fake and Misleading Claims Flood Social Media

Shujaat Ali Quadri

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026. The summit brought together member countries to discuss important issues including economic cooperation, reform of global governance, trade, artificial intelligence, health, energy, food security, and climate change. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted during the summit, with member countries condemning terrorism and […]

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From Trolls to Threats: How Online Abuse Targeted Women Protesters

Shujaat Ali Quadri

Introduction The July 2026 protests over examination-related grievances and the treatment of demonstrators produced a number of viral images and videos featuring young women. Their photographs, statements and protest videos travelled rapidly across social-media platforms, turning them into recognisable faces of a movement that had largely been organised and amplified online. Among those who drew […]

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Beijing to Islamabad: Narratives on Northeast India

Abhinav Singh

Executive Summary Pakistan’s information and propaganda ecosystem appears to be increasingly focusing on India’s Northeast, particularly Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, while simultaneously amplifying narratives that align with China’s strategic interests in the region. A year after Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir said that “We’ll start from India’s East”, the propaganda does not seem […]

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Media or Mission? An Investigation into Dilli Hussain and the Digital Ecosystem of 5Pillars

Dilshad Noor

Dilli Hussain, also known as Muhammad Dilawar Hussain, is a well-known and influential figure associated with the global Muslim Brotherhood discourse. He is among a select group of journalists whose presence is frequently seen in discussions, debates, and coverage related to major issues concerning the Muslim world. By profession, Hussain is a journalist and serves […]

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Deepak Sharma: A Pattern of Misinformation, Hate Speech, and Misleading Content on Social Media

Shujaat Ali Quadri

As part of its ongoing initiative to identify and document online misinformation networks, DFRAC conducted an investigation into the X (formerly Twitter) account operated under the name Deepak Sharma. The assessment covered a three-month period, from May 2026 to July 2026, during which the account’s posts, reposts, and overall online activity were systematically monitored and […]

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Propaganda Decode: Analysis of Pakistani Users’ Narratives on Manipur, Kashmir, and Punjab!

Shujaat Ali Quadri

Wars are not fought only on borders; in the modern era, social media has become a new battlefield where mobile phones, computers, and the internet have replaced bullets and gunpowder as the biggest weapons. In this war, lines of soldiers are not visible; instead, information, images, videos, and posts appearing on screens serve as weapons. […]

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The Rise of a Polarizing Influencer: Investigating Riddhima Sharma’s Digital Footprint

Shujaat Ali Quadri

Executive Summary This report presents DFRAC’s investigation into the social media activity of Riddhima Sharma, an Instagram-based influencer who has accrued a significant following through content focused on religion, Hindu nationalism, cultural identity, and political commentary. The account was created in February 2024 and has grown rapidly, gaining visibility through associations with senior members of […]

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Weaponizing Narratives: A Study of Pakistan-Linked Misinformation Targeting India

Shujaat Ali Quadri

Executive Summary Over the last three months, multiple investigations, fact-checks, and digital monitoring exercises conducted by DFRAC identified a sustained pattern of misinformation campaigns originating from or amplified by Pakistan-linked social media ecosystems targeting India. These campaigns have evolved beyond conventional geopolitical propaganda and increasingly exploit communal sensitivities, regional tensions, political polarization, and public distrust. […]

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From Kashmir to India: How ‘Azad Urdu’ weaves an anti-India narrative

Shujaat Ali Quadri

Azaad Digital is a multilingual digital news platform from Pakistan that publishes news, analysis, and fact-check content in English, Urdu, and Chinese. With the objective of expanding its reach to Urdu-speaking readers worldwide, this media network has launched a separate platform for the Urdu language named Azaad Urdu. Azaad Urdu presents itself as an independent, fact-based, and […]

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