In the shadowy world of disinformation warfare, few names have stirred as much controversy as the Srivastava Group. The seemingly innocuous Indian business conglomerate, operating under the radar for nearly 15 years, has now been unmasked as the orchestrator of an elaborate and far-reaching fake news empire. This clandestine network of over 750 fabricated media outlets, spanning 119 countries, functioned as a powerful tool in India’s geopolitical strategy. Its primary objective: to manipulate global narratives, discredit adversarial nations, and shape international opinion in India’s favor—most notably by targeting Pakistan.
The scale of deception was staggering. From Geneva to Brussels and from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi, the Srivastava Group systematically built an intricate web of disinformation. EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based NGO, brought this murky operation into the limelight through its damning report, “Indian Chronicles.” The findings were shocking—defunct newspapers were resurrected, fictitious media platforms were created, and fabricated stories were planted to influence international institutions such as the United Nations and the European Parliament. The central theme of these campaigns? To paint Pakistan as a hub of terrorism, economic instability, and human rights violations, thereby damaging its global standing.
One of the primary strategies employed by this network was the replication and amplification of fake narratives. Outlets like “EP Today,” “Times of Geneva,” and “4NewsAgency”—all tracing back to the Srivastava Group—regularly churned out anti-Pakistan content. These fabricated reports were then picked up by various media outlets, creating an illusion of widespread credibility. In Geneva, where the UN Refugee Agency is based, the “Times of Geneva” claimed to be a seasoned media house with over 35 years of experience. However, investigations found that its primary focus was to malign Pakistan’s image, with extensive coverage on alleged minority rights violations and unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Further exposing this web of deceit, DisinfoLab found that “4NewsAgency” purportedly operated in Belgium, Switzerland, Thailand, and Abu Dhabi, claiming to have a presence in 100 countries. However, in reality, it had only two physical offices—one in Belgium and the other in Geneva. The masterminds behind this operation, Ankit Srivastava and Neha Srivastava, were listed as board members of multiple shell companies affiliated with the network. Financial reports indicated that these entities barely made any profit, with A2N Broadcasting reporting a mere balance of 10,000 rupees across its bank accounts. Yet, the disinformation empire continued to function seamlessly, raising questions about external funding and state involvement.
Beyond the digital realm, the Srivastava Group also sought to influence key decision-makers. Indian operatives established ties with European parliamentarians, lobbying for resolutions that portrayed Pakistan in a negative light. The network even hijacked the identities of deceased UN Human Rights Council journalists to propagate fabricated narratives. The extent of its reach was unprecedented, impacting policy discussions and international diplomatic stances.
The exposure of this disinformation network comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Canada. Relations between the two nations hit a new low following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader and advocate for Khalistan, outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly accused India of orchestrating the killing, citing “credible evidence” linking Indian government agents to the incident. The allegations sparked an intense diplomatic standoff, resulting in mutual expulsions of top diplomats and a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties.
India has long viewed pro-Khalistan activities in Canada as a threat, frequently accusing the Canadian government of providing a safe haven for Sikh separatists. The Nijjar incident, however, marked an unprecedented escalation. Canada’s accusations led to international scrutiny, with the United States and European allies calling on India to cooperate with the investigation. The crisis also underscored the growing concerns about India’s extraterritorial operations, raising alarm bells across Western intelligence agencies.
As the revelations about the Srivastava Group’s vast disinformation machinery continue to unfold, questions arise about the broader implications of India’s covert influence operations. Pakistan, which has long been a primary target of these campaigns, has responded by intensifying its countermeasures. Islamabad has ramped up digital monitoring, strengthening its cybersecurity frameworks to detect and debunk fake news in real-time. It has also launched diplomatic offensives, presenting evidence of Indian propaganda efforts at international forums and urging the United Nations to take action against such malign activities.
The Pakistan government, recognizing the power of media warfare, has also prioritized public awareness campaigns to educate its citizens about disinformation. Collaborations with international cybersecurity firms and intelligence-sharing agreements with allied nations have further bolstered Pakistan’s defenses against fake news. However, the challenge remains daunting, as new fronts in the disinformation battle continue to emerge.
The United States and European countries, too, are beginning to take note of India’s clandestine propaganda activities. The growing body of evidence linking Indian entities to global disinformation campaigns has prompted calls for tighter regulations on fake news networks and foreign influence operations. Intelligence agencies are now reevaluating the extent of India’s involvement in international affairs through covert channels, with some reports suggesting that India’s influence efforts extend beyond just targeting Pakistan.
While India maintains that its foreign policy is rooted in democratic principles and non-interference, the evidence uncovered by EU DisinfoLab tells a different story. The global media landscape is at an inflection point, where disinformation and manipulation have become potent tools in geopolitical conflicts. The case of the Srivastava Group serves as a stark reminder of how digital subterfuge can reshape narratives, influence policy decisions, and even strain international relations.
As the world grapples with the consequences of this sprawling disinformation network, the imperative for transparency and accountability has never been greater. Governments, media watchdogs, and technology companies must work together to dismantle such deceptive operations, ensuring that information remains a tool for truth rather than a weapon of deception.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
