What is the background on Indian disinformation campaigns in the South Asian region?

The background on Indian disinformation campaigns in the South Asian region involves a complex and extensive operation primarily aimed at discrediting Pakistan and, to a lesser extent, China. This operation, known as "Indian Chronicles," was uncovered by the EU DisinfoLab and has been ongoing for over 15 years. It involves the use of fake media outlets, resurrected defunct organizations, and even deceased individuals to influence international institutions like the UN and the EU. The Srivastava Group, an Indian holding company, and Asian News International (ANI), India's largest video news agency, are identified as key players in this campaign. The operation has been linked to over 750 fake media outlets across 119 countries, with the aim of promoting pro-Indian narratives and undermining Pakistan's reputation on the global stage. Despite the scale and sophistication of the operation, there is no direct evidence linking it to the Indian government, although it heavily relies on ANI for content amplification. The campaign has raised concerns about the manipulation of international institutions and the spread of disinformation, highlighting the need for stronger frameworks to counter such activities BBC, EU DisinfoLab, Radio Pakistan.