By Qamar Bashir
In the fog of war, truth is often the first casualty. As the Israel-Iran conflict
intensifies, a dangerously false narrative is being pushed by Israeli-linked media
outlets—one that falsely accuses Pakistan of issuing nuclear threats and aligning
militarily with Iran. It alleges that Pakistan warned the United States and France
that it would retaliate if Iran is attacked with nuclear weapons. These claims have
no basis in reality—no official statements, no credible sources, no historical
precedent. Yet, amplified by a sophisticated propaganda network, these
unsubstantiated claims are being given the weight of fact, threatening to create
justification for future aggression.
This narrative collapses under strategic scrutiny. Pakistan’s missile program is
regionally focused, designed only to counter threats from India. Its delivery
systems are not capable of reaching Israel, and Pakistan has never developed the
long-range missile capability or refueling infrastructure needed for such
operations. Furthermore, Pakistan lacks the aerial refueling capacity to sustain
long-range missions, making any such threat logistically impossible. The very
suggestion that Pakistan could or would launch nuclear weapons toward Israel is
not only implausible—it is militarily impossible.
Likewise, comparing Pakistan to the United States as a strategic threat is absurd.
Pakistan is a struggling economy with limited global influence, whereas the U.S.
remains a superpower. By any metric—military strength, economic capacity, or
diplomatic reach—Pakistan is not in a position to challenge U.S. interests. These
claims are not only false; they are constructed to incite fear, provoke conflict, and
shift the global narrative in Israel’s favor.
What we are witnessing is not misinformation—it is information warfare. For the
first time in modern history Iranian missiles rained down on major Israeli cities,
shattering the long-held illusion of invincibility. In response, Israel pivoted toward
narrative control. By framing itself as a victim and targeting Pakistan with baseless
accusations, it seeks to expand the war narrative and preemptively neutralize any
potential Muslim voice of dissent.
Pakistan’s record stands in direct opposition to this manufactured threat. Time and
again, it has demonstrated military restraint and strategic maturity. From the Kargil
conflict to the Pulwama-Balakot standoff and ot the recent standoff between
Pakistan and India after Pahalgam terrorists attack, Pakistan has shown that it acts
defensively—even when provoked. The capture and swift return of an Indian pilot
in 2019 reflected its desire to de-escalate, not inflame, conflict. Its nuclear doctrine
is deterrence-based and region-specific. It has never engaged in offensive nuclear
signaling beyond the India-Pakistan context. Pakistan does not seek global military
entanglements; its entire military posture is defensive and grounded in regional
stability.
Internally, Pakistan faces serious challenges—economic volatility, inflation,
political instability, and a worsening poverty crisis. These conditions alone make
foreign military engagement an untenable proposition. Pakistan is focused on
survival, not strategic adventurism. The idea that it would involve itself in a
Middle Eastern war—especially one involving Israel, the U.S., and possibly
NATO—is not just far-fetched, it is suicidal. It lacks the resources, alliances, and
intent to fight such a war.
The urgency of caution became even more pronounced after President Donald
Trump fired his National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, on allegations of collusion
with Israeli interests. Waltz was reportedly briefing Israeli officials from within the
White House and encouraging the impression that the United States was fully
backing Israel’s military operations.
His dismissal revealed how deeply Israel’s influence has penetrated not just
Congress, but the American executive and intelligence establishment. This same
covert lobbying network that engineered political consent for Israel’s attack on Iran
could easily be redirected against Pakistan. The machinery that shaped U.S.
perception of Iran can be repurposed to vilify Pakistan, manufacturing a threat
where none exists. In light of this, Pakistan must tread with extreme
care—strategically, diplomatically, and rhetorically.
Despite Trump’s official distancing from Israel’s unilateral strikes, his language
betrays alignment. He reminded the world that the United States possesses “the
most lethal weapons on earth” and added that Israel has “plenty of them.” While
claiming non-involvement, the United States continues to support Israel with
funding, military hardware, intelligence, and diplomatic protection. The public
stance of neutrality contrasts sharply with the reality of strategic complicity.
It is within this shadow war of narratives that Pakistan is being framed. Its historic
support for oppressed Muslim populations is being twisted into alleged military
threats. Sympathy is being rebranded as hostility. Moral clarity is being turned into
strategic posturing. This narrative war is not only aimed at distraction—it is laying
the foundation for potential aggression.
The real threat to regional and global peace is not from Pakistan’s imaginary long-
range nuclear capacity, but from Israel’s disinformation offensive and the West’s
silent acquiescence. This manipulation of global opinion—via planted stories,
distorted facts, and fabricated threats—is a deliberate campaign to manufacture
consent for unjust wars. The world must recognize it, confront it, and reject it.
In these dangerous and volatile times, words can be more destructive than
weapons. Pakistani leadership—civilian and military—must exercise extreme
caution in public messaging. Statements made in Parliament, at press conferences,
or in international forums can be manipulated and reframed by hostile actors.
Pakistan must not rise to this bait. It must remain anchored in its own national
interest, grounded in realism, and focused on internal consolidation. The cost of
strategic miscalculation at this juncture could be catastrophic. Diplomacy,
backchannel engagement, and regional coordination should remain Pakistan’s only
tools of influence. There is neither the space nor the mandate for military signaling.
Power without truth is tyranny. Military strength without accountability is chaos.
In this dangerous moment, Pakistan’s most potent weapon is not force—but
restraint, neutrality, and unwavering commitment to the truth.
About Writer: Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Macomb, Michigan, USA
