A comprehensive research report issued by the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) at the University of Lahore, titled “Unpacking Al-Marsad: Narratives, Propaganda and the Disinformation War Against Pakistan,” has revealed that the platform known as Al-Marsad is in fact a deceptive propaganda tool developed within the Afghan Taliban’s intelligence structure. The report states that under the guise of journalism, it is being used to run a coordinated campaign against Pakistan. Its primary objective, according to the study, is to distort Pakistan’s state image and undermine the trust of its citizens as well as international partners.
Undermining Diplomatic Efforts
The report emphasizes that Al-Marsad is not an independent media outlet but an instrument used by the Afghan Taliban to discredit Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives for regional peace. In particular, it is allegedly targeting Pakistan’s mediating role between Iran and the United States, attempting to portray Pakistan as an “anti-Iran” state aligned with Western agendas.
This campaign, the report notes, intensified at a time when Pakistan facilitated a two-week ceasefire agreement between the parties on April 8. Al-Marsad, according to the findings, has been actively attempting to deny these developments and damage Pakistan’s international credibility.
India-Afghanistan Digital Nexus
The research also highlights a coordinated online link between Indian and Afghan social media networks as part of the broader information warfare against Pakistan. Following recent regional tensions involving Iran and Israel, it was observed that Indian and Afghan-linked operators attempted to create divisions in Pakistan-Iran relations through fake Iranian social media identities.
The report draws parallels with the 2020 “Indian Chronicles” investigation by the EU DisinfoLab, which exposed a long-running Indian disinformation campaign against Pakistan aimed at influencing Western policy perceptions. CSSPR describes Al-Marsad as part of this wider global disinformation ecosystem.
Promotion of Extremist Discourses
The study further argues that Al-Marsad promotes extremist ideologies by misusing religious terminology and historical references. It alleges that the platform attempts to justify militancy and violence under religious cover while systematically targeting Pakistan’s image.
The report warns that by presenting propaganda as news, Al-Marsad is contributing to internal polarization, encouraging ethnic divisions, and attempting to weaken Pakistan from within. Its ultimate objective, it concludes, is to destabilize Pakistan internally and inflict long-term damage on its international reputation.
