ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday unequivocally asserted that its nuclear deterrent is solely India-focused and defensive — neither intended for use by any third country, nor to be drawn into external conflicts like the Iran-Israel standoff.
This official declaration followed a wave of disinformation after two AI-generated reports falsely claimed that Pakistan had threatened a nuclear response against Israel, if Iran were attacked.
As tensions flared in the Middle East, disinformation amplified by social media and some foreign mainstream outlets sought to cast Pakistan as Iran’s covert nuclear shield.
Pakistan’s nuclear credibility, its delicate Gulf relationships, and strategic stability already on the line, swift denials by senior Pakistani leaders proved crucial in averting diplomatic fallout, regional escalation, and reputational damage.
Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif stress defensive, India-focused nature of Pakistan’s N-deterrent after AI-generated fake videos, foreign media reports suggest Islamabad mulling use of its arsenal to defend Iran
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wasted no time in pushing back against this disingenuous claim in the Senate. “Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state, and our nuclear and missile programme is solely for national defence and security purposes. Pakistan has not issued any statement regarding a nuclear strike on Israel.”
Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif took to X (formerly Twitter) to reaffirm Islamabad’s stance. “Our nuclear capability is for the benefit of our people and defence of our country against hostile designs of our enemies.”
The first rumour erupted when Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s National Security Council and a senior IRGC general, appeared in what was later proven to be an AI-generated video, claiming that Pakistan had pledged nuclear retaliation against Israel on Iran’s behalf.
Alert viewers soon noticed a ‘Veo’ watermark on the clip, exposing its inauthenticity, but not before it went viral.
A second whisper campaign on X (formerly Twitter), citing an unverified report from Israel’s Channel10, alleged Pakistan had warned Washington it would launch nuclear strikes on Israel to defend Iran.
How did Pakistan, whose nuclear doctrine is squarely aimed at deterring India, become ensnared in Middle Eastern disinformation?
Three factors converged - Pakistan’s vocal, cross-party support for Iran over the past week; the rise of AI-assisted content that’s virtually impossible to authenticate in real time; and adversarial networks intent on splintering Pakistan’s ties with Western partners and Gulf states.
Additional claims of intelligence sharing and fighter jet deployments near the Iranian border only deepened the confusion.
Many Indian news outlets lent the story a veneer of credibility, while the social media platform X became the primary vector for its spread.
Had Pakistan remained silent, Western capitals might have questioned its regional role; Gulf monarchies could have grown wary of their cooperation with Pakistan; and the IAEA might have launched fresh probes into Islamabad’s arsenal.
Instead, by naming and shaming the fabrications, Pakistan preserved its strategic posture and issued a broader warning that in an age of deepfakes and rumour mills, the first casualty of conflict can be the truth itself.
DPM Dar cautioned that “such misleading and false information can harm national interests. Irresponsible commentary and false news on such sensitive matters not only mislead the public but can also damage Pakistan’s reputation at the international level.”
Beyond rhetoric, this episode highlights a broader dilemma for nuclear powers in the digital era that deterrence depends as much on perception as on warheads.
Once falsehoods take root, the fallout from market jitters to diplomatic rifts can cascade within hours.
For Pakistan, whose security calculus already balances rivalry with India, Afghanistan’s volatility, complex Iran ties, and a growing partnership with China, the new front has become the internet.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Iran’s ambassador at the soft launch of the Maritime Expo in Islamabad, “Pakistan stands by Iran against violations of international law,” recalling Pakistan’s own UN Security Council interventions.
In Vienna, Islamabad joined Russia and China in urging the IAEA to report on Israel’s strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. And in Tehran, Parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian cited a Pakistani parliamentary resolution affirming solidarity with Iran “against the malicious policies of Israel” and pledging support at all fora.
Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2025
