Controversial Indian journalist Arnab Goswami was left red-faced after his conspiracy against Pakistan was exposed.
In an episode aired on September 15, Goswami claimed he had “intelligence” regarding Pakistan Army’s alleged presence in Afghanistan’s Panjshir valley supporting the Afghan Taliban.
He claimed that Pakistan Army officers were staying on the fifth floor of the Serena Hotel in Kabul. The anchor’s claim was quickly exposed as the Serena Hotel in Kabul only has two floors, not five.
Goswami had invited an Indian analyst as well as PTI spokesperson Abdul Samad Yaqoob to represent Pakistan to discuss the infighting within the Taliban, who seized control of Afghanistan last month.
Arnab Goswami and his ‘intelligence sources’. ???? pic.twitter.com/W9bCZxbw0D
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 18, 2021
When Yaqoob challenged the claims Goswami had attributed to his sources in Afghanistan, the anchor went on the defence and claimed that his information had proven to be true.
“My sources said three things, all of which are right. My sources said that the people of Panjshir will fight and they are still fighting,” he said. “…And the Taliban are still fighting there.”
Goswami then addressed Yaqoob and said: “You go and check today … on the fifth floor of the Serena Hotel, I am telling you, please check, fifth floor of the Serena Hotel in Kabul, how many Pakistani army officers are there?”
He then doubled down on his claim, saying he could even provide the room numbers of the Pakistani officers.
“I can also maybe tell you what they ordered for dinner so don’t question my intelligence sources,” he continued. “We’ve got all our aerial surveillance on you people.”
Dear #ArnabGoswami this is Sarena hotel Kabul I am still unable to find out fifth floor ? ???????? pic.twitter.com/9LgOj5BV4u
— Vasundhra Chauhan (@Dilsedesh) September 19, 2021
A day later, Yaqoob was back on Goswami’s programme and countered the anchor’s claim by saying: “What I got to know from my sources [is that] Serena has only two floors. There are no third, fourth or fifth floors.”
The Indian anchor had no logical answer to the counter. Instead, he berated his Pakistani guest and sought to draw attention away from his blunder.
After the amusing exchange went viral, netizens from Pakistan and India alike called out Goswami for making false claims. An Indian user shared a picture of the hotel’s facade which showed only two storeys.
Arnab’s Intelligence Source pic.twitter.com/7yb81ODOV7
— Abdul Samad Yaqoob (@ASY53) September 19, 2021
A receptionist at the Serena Hotel confirmed a Pakistani news channel that the property has only two floors. Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei too exposed Goswami’s claims by sharing images of the hotel.
PTI spokesperson Yaqoob himself joined by sharing the cover page of a novel titled ‘The Fifth Floor’. He captioned the picture: “Arnab’s Intelligence Source.”
Goswami is notorious for his war-mongering and aggressive journalism supporting India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
