Punjab Outlook

In India, this tiny feature has started a massive storm. And honestly, I’m shocked at what it’s revealing. For years, we’ve suspected thousands of social media accounts pretending to be “Indian” – but actually run from Pakistan. They push fake news, stir communal fights, provoke farmers, target the Army, and attack our institutions. Now, we finally have proof.

I opened a few handles that scream against Modi, spread caste hate, and act like big Congress supporters. Guess what? Many are not sitting in Delhi or Mumbai. They’re in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, even the US. BJP leader Amit Malviya put it straight: “These are not real Indian voices. They are foreign handles changing usernames again and again to fool us.” Two accounts pretending to be Indian girls – Diya Sharma and Yashita Nagpal – were caught running from Pakistan. One even confessed: “I was paid by Indian parties for campaigns.” Then quickly changed the location and vanished. BJP ties this to old chaos, like the 2020 Delhi riots or anti-CAA protests, where doctored videos from abroad sparked real anger.

But the part that really shook me is the Khalistan angle. For years, India has faced a problem hard to prove: Pakistan’s ISI fueling fake “Indian Sikh” accounts to push separatism and weaken Punjab. Now X is proving it. I checked some loud “Khalistan Zindabad” handles myself – most show Pakistan or Canada. Same old trick: put a Sikh name, add a turban photo, and start abusing Hindus. In 2021, during the farmers’ protest, Delhi Police found more than 300 brand-new Pakistani accounts created just to spoil the tractor rally on Republic Day. Another 1,178 accounts were blocked because they were spreading lies with ISI money. Kisan Andolan was a real demand, but Pakistan turned it into an anti-India weapon.

This hits hardest in Punjab, our border state, where emotional issues like Sikh identity are weaponized. Pakistan-based handles pretend to speak for “Punjab’s voice” or “oppressed Sikhs,” pushing anti-India and anti-Sikh narratives. They claim India hates Sikhs, reviving old wounds to brainwash Punjabi youth – even in Canada, where radicalization is spreading fast. Young minds there, far from home, get flooded with this poison. And it’s not just X. Reels on Instagram, WhatsApp forwards, Facebook posts – all carry the same dangerous agenda. A quick reel becomes the final truth for kids who don’t have time or tools to analyze or research. It corrupts genuine talks, fuels mistrust, and tries to divide families and communities. With AI, this propaganda has dangerously increased manifold and it makes difficult for people to differentiate between truth and fiction/falsity. Irony of Punjab: the louder the anti India pitch, more popular the leader become overnight. Shout anti India, portray victim, oppressed, danger to the quam, your leadership shines, viewership goes up on Youtube.

I feel angry because social media feels like our own adda. We fight, we joke, we vote with likes and retweets. When I see that half the noise is coming from across the border, it feels like someone is playing loud music in my house without permission. Yes, some people say “VPN can change location” or “travelling Indians also show foreign country.” True. X itself put a warning – it’s about 99% accurate, but not foolproof. But when hundreds of accounts suddenly switch location the moment they get caught, it’s hard to believe it’s all just “travel.”

I’m glad this feature came. For the first time, we can see who is really shouting. Pakistan has been doing this cheap hybrid war for years – no bullets, just bots and lies. Now the mask is off. It gives ordinary people a simple defence: check the location before you trust the narrative. It’s a warning for journalists, researchers, and security folks to track manipulation. And it reduces space for propaganda to spread unchecked.

In 2025, India can’t fight yesterday’s wars with old tools. Misinformation is the new weapon. Social media is the new frontline. In May 2025, I had written a piece https://gpsmann.substack.com/p/indias-war-on-lies-needs-digital?r=3598n2 and argued that India’s War on Lies Needs Digital Soldiers” and Internet is the next battle ground. To win, win the narrative too. And transparency is the new shield. X’s update may look small, but it has huge national-security value – especially for Punjab’s youth. If used wisely, it won’t just expose Pakistan’s anti-India agenda. It will strengthen our democracy, protect our kids from dangerous radicalisation and its lies.