Indian Defense
Facebook Suspends Pakistan-Linked Fake News Outlets Targeting India
According to Facebook’s most recent Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour (CIB) report, the platform has removed 40 Facebook accounts, 25 Pages, six Groups, and 28 Instagram accounts based in Pakistan
Facebook has removed accounts that backed Pakistan’s government and slammed India
In a recent Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour (CIB) report of Facebook, the platform has taken down 40 Facebook accounts, 25 Pages, six Groups, and 28 Instagram accounts based in Pakistan. “Although the people behind it attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation found links to individuals associated with AlphaPro, a Pakistan-based PR firm,” Facebook said.
“Key narratives advanced by the network included: praise for Pakistan and its armed forces; efforts to denigrate India and highlight attacks by Hindu nationalists targeting religious minorities; support for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan; and promotion of the government-backed China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) investment project.” said a Graphika report, a research firm that studies misinformation and analyses manipulation of social networks.
Fake Media Outlets
Facebook has identified and taken down the network of these fake media outlets. The mentioned accounts and pages are the prime entities spotted in the operation.
The official ‘CJ post’ Facebook page was created in January 2016, branding itself as a “classified journal”. The associated website – cjpost.co.uk, created in February 2019, has a total of six articles concerning these issues like human rights violations involving religious minorities in India, Kashmir independence and abuses its people have suffered at the hands of the Indian Military, and alleged diplomatic tensions between India and US.
A screenshot of cjpost.co.uk showing only six articles posted between July 2020 – April 2021
The Facebook page of ‘Poorv Files’ was created in May 2020. This news media outlet uses to publish short videos on the Facebook page and associated YouTube channel and the majority of video content is focused on Pakistan’s rivalry with India. Freelance journalists who appeared in most of the videos are supportive of the Pakistani Government, two of them previously worked at state broadcaster PTV and one helped Alpha Pro to produce a military documentary.
Poorv Files Facebook page (Source: Graphika)
Two videos posted by Poorv Files that feature freelance journalists working in Pakistan
‘Asal Baat’ is another media outlet from the same network publishing politically-themed video content. It has targeted Indian defence, intelligence and government frequently. A video posted with the title, “The struggle for Kashmir in the digital age: Wani is Kashmir” in July 2018 was produced by Alpha Pro.
Screenshots from the video “The Struggle for Kashmir in the Digital Age: Wani Is Kashmir” posted by AsalBaat in July 2018 and showing the Alpha Pro name and logo (Source: Graphika)
Another similar news outlet named ‘Aik Minute Aik Khabar’ created in 2015 published video content in the same manner supporting Pakistan Government and criticising India, and also targeted domestic protesters.
Anti-India Narrative
Graphika said that the Indian Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were attacked frequently by these identified fake media outlets. The posts were concerned with many issues, including human rights abuses conducted by Indian troops in J&K, mentioning Hindu nationalist attacks against religious minorities, and highlighting New Delhi as increasingly isolated on the international stage. The network also gave extensive coverage to farmers’ protests.
According to Graphika’s investigation, there are multiple open-source links between AlphaPro and Pakistan military’s Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). AlphaPro serves the ISPR as mentioned in their client’s roster. Also, four former and current Alpha Pro employees previously worked for the ISPR. Praises for the Pakistan armed forces narrative propagated by identified fake news outlets aligned with the interest of ISPR.
AlphaPro Client list on the website
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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