EU Disinfo Lab, a European non-governmental organization (NGO) against disinformation, has exposed an Indian disinformation group - comprising approximately 750 fake media outlets and 10 zombie NGOs - operating since 2005 while producing and amplifying content designed to undermine Pakistan.

According to the report published by EU Disinfo Lab titled 'INDIAN CHRONICLES', India has been using a large number of fake media outlets, a big network of zombies and misappropriated accredited NGOs, impersonating renowned personalities to create fake profiles, and laundering content produced by fake media to real media to undermine Pakistan internationally.

EU DisinfoLab’s Managing director Gary Machado said that the group coordinates a number of organizations fronting as NGOs:

"What we learned in this investigation is that it is possible to turn EU Institutions into unwitting actors of a 15-year influence operation. With lobbying and fake media, Indian Chronicles [the name DisinfoLab has given to the operation] has been successful in building a strong sense of constant official support of the EU to Indian interests, reaching millions in South-Asia."

Network of UN-accredited dubious NGOs:

During the investigations, the Disinfo Lab found at least seven accredited-NGOs directly controlled by the Srivastava Group, an Indian company, in addition to the International Institute of Non-Aligned Studies, the Commission to Study the Organization of Peace, and the Indian Council of Education, which are openly managed by the group. These NGOs include:

1. The International Institute of Non-Aligned Studies - IINS (transparent ties)
2. The Indian Council of Education - ICE (transparent ties)
3. The Commission to Study the Organization of Peace - CSOP (hidden ties)
4. The International Club for Peace Research – ICPR (hidden ties)
5. The World Environment and Resources Council - WERC (hidden ties)
6. United Schools International - USI (hidden ties)
7. International Association for Democracy in Africa (IADA) (hidden ties)
8. Pan African Union for Science and Technology (PAUFST) (hidden ties)
9. Canners International Permanent Committee (CIPC) (hidden ties)
10. Center for Environmental and Management Studies (CEMS) (hidden ties)

The network of NGOs outside of the United Nations linked to the Srivastava group:

India also used a network of NGOs outside of the United Nations to undermine the credibility of Pakistan at the United Nations and European Union. These NGOs have been actively propagating the Indian narrative during many side events and demonstrations in Geneva and elsewhere. Some of these NGOs, such as the European Organization for Pakistani Minorities (EOPM) and Baluchistan House, are organized directly by organizations created by the Srivastava Group while others, such as the International Council For Inter-Religious Cooperation (ICIRC) and the Women's Economic and Social Think Tank (WESTT) have links with the Srivastava group and lobby for India.

Modus Operandi of Indian lobby:

The modus operandi of the Srivastava Group is as follow:

• The regular use of Regus office addresses to register fake media or proxy organizations.
• The extensive use of students as interns, with the perspective to work or speak about human rights in international organizations as a honeypot

Why create a network of NGOs?

The network of NGOs was created to amplify the Indian narrative and sabotage Pakistan's efforts at the international stage. International Club for Peace Research (ICPR), a dormant UN-accredited NGO, was resurrected by the Indian lobby in 2009 when it started appearing at the UNCHR regularly undermining Pakistan during plenary sessions. Similarly, Pan African Union for Science and Technology's (PAUFST) platform was used to undermine Pakistan at UN Human Rights Council. Baluchistan House has been regularly organizing demonstrations against the Pakistani government and in favor of free Baluchistan. The network has also been working on to improve India’s image and damage the reputation of rival countries internationally. The ultimate aim for the move is to get India more support from international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.

Indian lobby 'resurrected' dead IL professor to push anti-Pakistan narrative:

The Indian lobby in an attempt to push the anti-Pakistan narrative stole the identity of former chairman of the Commission to Study the Organisation of Peace (CSOP) - Prof Louis B Sohn, also known as the "grandfather of international human rights law”. During the investigations, the Disinfo Lab found out that Prof Louis B Sohn's name was listed as a CSOP participant at the UNHRC session in 2007 and at a separate event in Washington DC in 2011. Prof Sohn had died in 2006 at the age of 92.