“In conflicts shaped by perception more than precision, truth becomes the first casualty. And narrative is the deadliest weapon.”

Once news of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack surfaced on Indian television, there was no break for corroboration, forensic investigation, or temporal pause. In a matter of hours, the Modi-headed BJP machinery had, without any second thoughts, assigned blame: Pakistan, once again. This was not a conclusion but rather an instinctive reaction. As a consequence of being overly dependent on instincts, this case reveals much more about the actor than the act. What followed next was not just a political show but rather an attempt motivated by a desire to manipulate a national tragedy for their own external and domestic political extraction. This bears resemblance to the BJP’s M.O., whose ascendance comes with an unrestrained appetite to exploit crises, Islamophobic demonization of Indian Muslims, and cynically portraying the Pakistani state. However, this time, the plan backfired.

The Pahalgam incident, while at its essence a horrifying spectacle full of dramatization, bore the unmistakable hallmarks of New Delhi’s past jingoistic elections

The Pahalgam incident, while at its essence a horrifying spectacle full of dramatization, bore the unmistakable hallmarks of New Delhi’s past jingoistic elections. Unlike earlier attempts, the latest ones come alongside a strategically planned response from Pakistan known as Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos. In a matter of days, Pakistan was able to dismantle the entire narrative of the “Pahalgam Attack,” counter cyber provocations and Indian webs of disinformation, and deploy multi-domain strikes of diplomatic and informational counteroffensives.

In what can only be termed a “masterclass” in strategic response, Pakistan, a regional state, was able to outmaneuver a larger power in the increasingly common form of hybrid warfare. Islamabad not only managed to outsmart India’s latest psyops but also managed to shift the focus on India’s dangerous “doctrine of deceit,” leaving spectators wondering how Pakistan pulled this off.

The world in which Narendra Modi lives is one where Muslims will always be the outsiders in a nation built by them

In order to understand how the Modi regime arrived at such brinkmanship thinking, one needs to revisit the central ideological nations that form the basis of its worldview. Bridging the gap from the BJP’s rise stems from Hindutva, which is essentially a supremacist ideology built around viewing the world through the lens of a Hindu Rashtra. This vision rests firmly on India, and is deeply hostile to Muslims both within the borders and outside. The world in which Narendra Modi lives is one where Muslims will always be the outsiders in a nation built by them. To add any semblance of logic to this brutal view, Pakistan is not a rival state, but rather a totemic symbol of a civilization India seeks to erase. A pluralistic subcontinent mired in unresolved partition turbulence.

In a way, Modi’s Pakistanophobia is barbaric, bordering on the territory of theology.

Their erratic disregard for the ceasefire along the Line of Control and the bungling of SAARC speak to untruthful narratives this country supposedly operates on. However, the baseless framework of identity unification violence, shameless propaganda, and scapegoating of Pakistan covers up deep fragmentation and economic disrepair, and still stands unparalleled. Deceptive flag operations and domestic deception— the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001, the horrific terror attack in Mumbai, and what is now widely believed to have been staged by Indian forces before the narrative was shifted, the Pulwama bombings of 2019—all enable militaristic ventures and tyranny cloaked in patriotism.

This incredible ‘coincidence’ occurred just before India’s 2025 Bihar elections, scheduled for the fall, making it all too convenient for Modi

The Pahalgam incident was to be no different. This incredible ‘coincidence’ occurred just before India’s 2025 Bihar elections, scheduled for the fall, making it all too convenient for Modi. The Prime Minister, Modi’s dwindling approval ratings are due to widespread discontent with farming policies, after being humiliated on the world stage during the failure of the QUAD joint naval exercises, and ever-increasing suspicions of his policies benefiting businesses over the general public. Like the rest of the BJP, the election strategists turned this fury into a tool for their party, which appeared desperate.

What could reset the narrative better than executing a terror attack in Kashmir, blaming it on Pakistan-linked organizations, and framing Modi as a defender of Indian life? It was a performance engineered for optimal psychological impact: tourists, pilgrims, and soldiers were ruthlessly executed in a valley that has historically been the epicenter of Indian suffering.

Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos (“The Firm Structure”) was initiated using cyber forensics, strategic communications, diplomatic outreach, cross-domain security maneuvers, and information warfare

This time, the narrative was contested, not from within India, where India’s echo chamber media blindly repeated the official narrative, but by hostile territories. Pakistan countered this not by being silent or denying but by strategically exposing the truth. Within hours of the attack, Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos (“The Firm Structure”) was initiated using cyber forensics, strategic communications, diplomatic outreach, cross-domain security maneuvers, and information warfare. By demonstrating bias and inconsistencies of Indian media footage, tracing the IP addresses of bot accounts that were trending anti-Pakistan hashtags before the attack, and releasing contradicting statements made by Indian police and Indian security officials, Pakistan dismantled the narrative brick by brick.

The manufactured nature of the event was underscored by the release of satellite imagery captured by ISPR depicting the movement of Indian troops days prior to the so-called attack, alongside their suggestive internal signals, and forensic scrutiny that dismantled the narrative of a planning cell based in Pakistan.

Anadolu Agency and Sputnik, the Russian media, were among the global observers who started questioning the Indian narrative

Anadolu Agency and Sputnik, the Russian media, were among the global observers who started questioning the Indian narrative. Even Western allies who had been somewhat reticent to counter New Delhi for their purple patches also reported inconsistencies. The U.N. also did not support India’s claims, which clearly demonstrated a lack of evidence to support such claims. There were increasing diplomatic concerns that hushed India had once again played out the Pulwama sting, but much more awkwardly. India’s actions then came under intense scrutiny around the world, which suggested that they were not immune to the pressure of global sentiment.

This led to what could be described as an unprecedented shift in the balance of initiative. For the first time in a significant South Asian crisis, the initial footsteps were from Pakistan. This was a classic example of a blend of all the tools of war, military, cyber, diplomacy, and media technologies under one roof, coming together to show the world what a coordinated response can do when they dial in a scope hybrid doctrine of warfare. Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos turned into a pivot, moving from defensive to a counter-offensive blitz, revealing the Indian playbook of pretending to be the victim and the alarming psychology behind the preemptive strike.

Framing this shift as a result of the increasing cooperation between Hindutva and Zionists is necessary

Framing this shift as a result of the increasing cooperation between Hindutva and Zionists is necessary. The past few years have proven that India and Israel have formed strategic relations, causing a rift in defense partnerships, but rather in ideological motivation, as the two showed symptoms of hyper-centralized surveillance polices and institutionalized narratives to rationalize the oppression of Muslim people.

Just as Israel has used the threat of Hamas violence as an excuse to commit violence in Gaza, India increasingly uses the threat of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism to justify crackdowns in Kashmir and elsewhere. The BJP’s adoption of Israeli policies, including targeted killings and synchronization of prose with pro-Israel Western media, has worsened the cycle of lawlessness.

Just as Israel’s brutal 2024 invasion of Rafah provoked unprecedented international outrage, so too did India’s narrative control attempt at Pahalgam

However, Pahalgam did expose some of the limits of this collaboration. Just as Israel’s brutal 2024 invasion of Rafah provoked unprecedented international outrage, so too did India’s narrative control attempt at Pahalgam. Those authoritarian regimes that attempt to exercise control over reality eventually end up drowning in their lies. Modi and his strategists miscalculated Pakistan’s willingness to engage, not only militarily but in the information space as well. Islamabad did not merely defend itself, but also controlled the narrative by exposing India’s deceitful tactics. Pakistan’s fortitude amidst distorted perceptions is commendable, which makes the audience admire Pakistan’s strength.

This will likely prove costly for India, as these narrative gambits are not self-sustaining. Questions are already surfacing within the Indian diaspora and among strategic thinkers about the sustainability of engineered crises as a governing framework. The BJP’s sustained expenditure on Islamophobia and anti-Pakistan hysteria has severely strained the policy’s effectiveness.

Modi’s standing as a meticulous observer of India’s collective emotions is under scrutiny as Indian society begins to realize the consequences of ceaseless warmongering

Modi’s standing as a meticulous observer of India’s collective emotions is under scrutiny as Indian society begins to realize the consequences of ceaseless warmongering. Even worse, the nation’s reputation on the global front took a hit. Members of the Non-Aligned Movement, Arab countries, and parts of the European Union expressed concerns regarding India’s baseless allegations.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s calm and refined demeanor throughout the crisis has brought it rare praise. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciated Islamabad for its “measured and evidence-based approach,” while Russia commended it for a “stabilising posture.” UN Secretary General’s spokesperson recognized Pakistan’s “constructive engagement with international partners.” In other words, Bunyan Ul Marsoos’s operations succeeded in narrative justification that military action could not offer.

It was not a coincidence that the Pahalgam incident took place just before elections in India; it was choreographed. The BJP has always thrived on programmed Indian nationalism, portraying the nation as being under eternal emerging threats. In these conditions, the absence of democracy is justified, all opposition is silenced, and artificial consensus is created. But this time, the reaction from society was different. Indian civil rights organizations that remained mute during the Pulwama events openly questioned the narrative provided by the government. Retired Indian military personnel were vocal about the need to stop the politicization of terror.

The leaked documents indicated there was conflict within the Indian intelligence ranks regarding the ethical implications of creating consent through planned violence.

The world is slowly running out of patience for the dramatic antics of a nuclear power fabricating enemies for electoral gain

Modi’s Islamophobia, while an asset politically, is about to become a severe strategic blunder for him. His single-minded focus on Pakistan and subsequently demonizing it has made him neglect important emerging geopolitical realities. The world is slowly running out of patience for the dramatic antics of a nuclear power fabricating enemies for electoral gain. As the China-Russia-Iran-Pakistan quad alliances begin to form, India is looking increasingly desperate. The Hindutva-Zionist narrative, which has been on the receiving end of intense scrutiny and exposed as undermining global cohesion, is now emblematic of internal contradictions.

As the geopolitical winds change in South Asia, it is apparent that another balance is arising, which calls for mastery of the story not by magnitude, but accuracy, posture, and steadfastnes

In the end, the moral of the story from Pahalgam and Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos is that the age of having no rivals in fake flag operations has ended. Information warfare is now too hot, contested turf, and Pakistan has more than demonstrated its capabilities to challenge and dominate in that space. It has now become far too easy for India to cry wolf on the global stage and expect everyone to join in Howling. Modi’s seemingly bloodthirsty phobias, long feted under the banner of nationalism, dismantled in a state of mass delusion, are nothing but tools of oppression and misdirection.

As the geopolitical winds change in South Asia, it is apparent that another balance is arising, which calls for mastery of the story not by magnitude, but accuracy, posture, and steadfastness.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.