Not new or strange. We are living in the age of “processed information” that is communicated systematically to develop a manipulated or camouflaged narrative in a country, region or globally. The built-up of a manipulated narrative usually serves some political, military or socioeconomic vested interests of some hierarchies. The size and scale of the processed information depend on the target. Political chaos in a country to a region or global economic crisis to creating a security situation or military conflict – everything is possible by engaging the masses and stakeholders by systematic dissemination of processed information where digital media plays the backbone role.
The history of our country Pakistan, region and the global map is saturated with such cases where “processed information”, which simply we shall call “disinformation”, was used for political, military, and economic dominance. Pakistan may be one of the most relevant examples of disinformation-based narratives against politicians and some judges of the superior judiciary when the “subjects” dared to stand against the hegemony. Over the decades, Pakistan’s military bosses have been conquering its own country and people time again. I am referring not only to the Martial-law regimes but taking over the political space with their puppets through camouflaged narratives against the popular political leaders and steadfast judges. “Military Inc.”, a book by Ayesha Siddiqa, reveals how our uniformed people have ensured their economic dominance in the country. Pakistan is a micro-case of all three dominions what their elite learned from their mentors and lords – the US and the UK.
The US and the UK, as part of their pursuit of global dominance, have created a multi-tier system of processing public opinion based on a wide-ranging network of foreign Public Relations agencies. This network is actively used in the information campaign against the geopolitical and economic opponents of Washington and its NATO allies. Mostly, their common agenda is against China, Russia, Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran and some other countries that would not accept global hegemony so blindly. Some have already borne the brunt of processed information or disinformation. What actually was the War on Terrorism and Arab Spring? Many research reports have been written and published.
What else could be shameless abuse of think tanks and public relations firms to establish a manipulated and camouflaged narrative against the opponents? Disseminating adulterated information for the vested interest of some, not only fools around the people but have severe consequences for mistrust leading to the disintegration of societies and economies. The present humanitarian crisis and economic miseries are the result of what the geopolitical narrative leading countries – the US and the UK have cultivated around the world.
Several geopolitical experts and economists have hinted that such outsourcing is organized under the auspices of the US National Security Council, the US State Department and the UK Foreign Office in order to impose Western attitudes and manipulate public opinion, as well as to cover up operations by the US intelligence community and British intelligence services. USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy (USA), Soros Foundation and the British and Czech governments are said to be involved in its funding. Pakistan banned some of the US and UK-funded national and international NGOs after they were found in some anti-state incidents in the country way back a decade. Now, the nongovernmental sector goes through a well-defined process for the sake of monitoring and regulation.
At the moment, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and China are the hot spot of processed information, consistent and integrated disinformation. The US and the UK agencies are all out to create a manipulated and camouflaged narrative against Russia and China. In the case of Ukraine, the distribution of financial flows is the responsibility of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. This approach allows Washington and its allies to demonstrate “massive support” for their policies in the world and to parry accusations of direct interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
The Russian experts believe that “during the Russian Armed Forces’ special military operation in Ukraine, Washington and London are already perfecting a model for managing their own information policy in a changing politico-military environment. The largest public relations and communications association in the West and the British PR Network play a key role in this effort. Employees of these structures are responsible for the coordinated promotion of the anti-Russian information agenda. In President Zelensky’s office, representatives of the leadership of these organizations are the “directors” of high-profile actions similar to Russia’s alleged crimes in Ukraine involving violations of international law. Similar staged actions were carried out in the cities of Bucha and Izyum.”
On the other hand, China, Iran, and North Korea are also facing the brunt of the same manipulated narrative. Pakistan has faced the worst for improving bilateral relations with China and Russia in particular and during the built up of the so-called Jihad in Afghanistan and the war against terrorism. Now a severe brunt is ready for supporting China and Russia. Indian and French media has already been picking up against Pakistan, also trying to create some misunderstandings between the strategic and economic partners. Efforts shall be in place to counter the manipulated and camouflaged narratives, internal or external, political, strategic or economic. Wake up all.
