The ministry urges users of social media to avoid sharing sensational ‘breaking news’ about military actions
Iranians gather as they block a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026. Photo: AFP
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued guidance to social media users urging them to avoid sharing sensational ‘breaking news’ about military actions that have circulated from propaganda sites run from Afghanistan and India. These reports falsely claimed that the US was using Pakistan as a base to launch an imminent military attack on Iran.
In a post on its official fact-checking account on X, the Ministry of Information provided a detailed analysis of the claims and offered a reality check based on verified sources. The ministry clarified that the circulating rumors were false and that no credible evidence supported the claims.
The disinformation, spread through accounts linked to Afghan and Indian sources such as @KHoorasanM_U1, @RealBababanaras and @AFGDefense, claimed that the US had moved aerial refueling (KC-135R) and surveillance aircraft to Pakistan.
The reports claimed that these aircraft conducted unusual flights towards or into Iranian airspace and that Pakistan was being used as a launch corridor for US stealth fighters (F-35/F-22) preparing for a possible military strike on Iran.
The ministry denied these claims, citing a Reuters report which confirmed that the US had indeed moved a number of tankers to Europe as tensions in the Middle East escalated. The ministry clarified that while US tanker activity had increased, it was not linked to Pakistan.
The ministry’s fact-check account stated: “US refueling aircraft movements have been reported, but mainly in relation to Europe. There is no credible evidence that US aircraft or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets are based in Pakistan. Additionally, there is no evidence of operational flights from Pakistan to Iran to have condemned any public military strikes against Iran.”
The ministry labeled the social media reports as disinformation and described them as part of a reckless, blame-shifting narrative designed to drag Pakistan into the US-Iran conflict without any verifiable evidence. “The claim that US aircraft arrived in Pakistan for strikes on Iran is pure disinformation,” the ministry’s fact-check account stressed.
In addition, the ministry issued a public advisory urging caution: “Do not share sensational military news from propaganda sites unless verified through credible reporting.”
For matters related to national security and defence, the ministry recommended that the public rely only on reputable sources, including Inter-Services Public Relations, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and trusted defense sources.
No room for terrorist stories, promises the information minister
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that terrorist elements would not be allowed to promote their narrative or ideology, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Addressing the Qaumi Paigham-e-Amman Committee conference in Islamabad, he said the nation stood united in its resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms. He emphasized that the scourge would be confronted through both kinetic and non-kinetic measures.
He declared that the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir stands united and resolute against terrorism. He added that there are efforts to reinforce the national narrative and thwart the designs of anti-state elements.
Tarar praised the role of religious scholars in protecting the country’s ideological boundaries and promoting peace. He announced that the committee would visit different parts of the country to spread Islam’s message of harmony, stressing that terrorists have no connection with Islam, Pakistan or humanity.
The Minister said that the Paigham-e-Amman Committee was an overarching body with representation from minorities and emphasized that safeguarding the rights of minorities was a collective responsibility. He noted that the fully empowered committee would play an effective role in combating terrorist propaganda.
Highlighting the important role of scholars, Tarar condemned foreign-backed extremist outfits and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism while promoting Islam’s message of peace. He added that the secretariat of the National Paigham-e-Amman Committee had been formally established to support initiatives that promote harmony and stability in society.
He stated that terrorists were neither bound by religion nor nationality, adding that the committee would promote the principle that terrorism has no connection with any faith. Tarar further said that there was a consensus throughout the Ummah that jihad could not be waged against the state of Pakistan.
The minister emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and harmony, noting that the committee had been tasked with conveying this message to every household. He pointed out that extremist outfits including Fitna-al-Hindustan and Fitna-al-Khawarij received foreign funding, adding that their designs were fully exposed as they continued to target innocent civilians. Amidst the violence, he reiterated his resolve to spread the message of peace throughout the country.
