Pakistan has opened a fake news factory to target India. Here’s how – India Today

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned twenty YouTube channels and two websites for dispensing fake news and promoting anti-India propaganda.

"The channels and websites belong to a coordinated disinformation network operating from Pakistan and spreading fake news about various sensitive subjects related to India. The channels were used to post divisive content in a coordinated manner on topics like Kashmir, Indian Army, minority communities in India, Ram Mandir, General Bipin Rawat and others," a source said.

India Today took a deep dive into what content these YouTube channels were publishing, how many subscribers they had and who they were being operated by. Heres what we found.

Of the twenty YouTube channels banned by the Government of India, at least 15 were being operated by the same group, Naya Pakistan Group.

Naya Pakistan Group (NGP) used Pakistani news anchors and artists to promote fake stories on YouTube. The group, according to Indian intelligence sources, is being funded by Pakistani agencies in a bid to create a riff within communities and target the youth in India.

The twenty banned YouTube channels have a total subscriber base of 35 lakh people. Of these, 31 lakh subscribers belong to the fifteen YouTube channels being run by or having links to NPG.

Some of the stories that were run on these channels include "Turkish Army Enters In New Dehli", "300 Indian Spy Hang By Afghaan Talebans And Give Clear Massage To Modi And Yogi" and "Joe Biden And Erdogan Going To Enter Troops In Kashmir As Modi Dismissed Article 370".

The YouTube channels were given neutral names such as Punjab Viral and Historical Facts, probably to mislead viewers into believing the content published by them.

Apart from using fake pictures, the YouTube channels also used hashtags of Indian origin to maximise their reach in India.

Heres a list of YouTube channels found to be operated by NPG:

1. Fictional

Subscribers: 3 lakh

Example of published story: 7 Arab Countries Ready To Cut The Oil Supply Of India

2. Historical Facts

Subscribers: 9.44 lakh

Example of published story: Turk Army Enter Ayodhya Ram Mandir To Takes Revenge

3. Punjab Viral

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: PM Modi concedes defeat in Kashmir

4. Naya Pakistan Global

Subscribers: 7.76 lakh

Example of published story: North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Send His Army In Ayodhya

5. The Punch Line

Subscribers: 1.16 lakh

Example of published story: 20 Indian Army Generals Neutralized In Training Center Of Kashmir Targeted By Kashmir Mujaheddin

6. Cover Story

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: United Nations Takes Historic Decision Against RSS Chief Amid Muslims Genocide In India

7. Go Globale Commerce

Subscribers: 12, 200

Example of published story: Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Accepted Defeat Against Pakistan, China

8. Junaid Heleem Official

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: 1000 Assam Muslims Reach To Afghaan Talebans To Take Help

9. Tayyab Hanif

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: America Imposed Sanctions On Rajnath Singh, Bipan Rawat, Naravane

10. Zain Ali Official

Subscribers: 1.39 lakh

Example of published story: 12 Indian Air Force Soldiers Arrested In The Bipin Rawat Mi-17 Helicopter Case

11. Mohsin Rajput Official

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: Indian Army Shows Proof That Tamil Tigers Hit On Bipin Rawat Helicopter With Rockets

12. Kaneez Fatima

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: Afghaan Talebans Come To Help Kashmiri Mujahdeens In Order To End Article 370

13. Sadaf Durrani

Subscribers: N/A

Example of published story: Modi's emergency visit to Kashmirr after the major defeat of the Indian Army

14. Mian Imran Ahmed

Subscribers: 36,000

Example of published story: China Exposed How USA Involved In Bipen Rawat Murder

15. Najam Ul Hassan Official

Subscribers: 8.54 lakh

Example of published story: Bipin Rawat Helicopter was not an Accident, BJP & RSS New Plane Against Indian Muslims

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Pakistan has opened a fake news factory to target India. Here's how - India Today