Why World Doesn’t Trust Pakistan Army’s Claims?
Lies, Denials & Surrenders: A Chronicle of the Pakistan Army’s False Narratives
The Pakistan Army, often hailed as the most powerful institution in the country, has repeatedly misled its own citizens and the international community through a series of denials, half-truths, and outright lies. This record of deception spans decades, involving military conflicts, terrorism, internal insurgencies, and international affairs. Here are sixteen major instances where the Pakistan Army’s official narrative was eventually proven false:
1. Kargil War (1999)
Lie: Pakistan claimed that the infiltrators in Kargil were Kashmiri militants, not regular soldiers.
Truth: Evidence recovered from the bodies of Pakistani soldiers, including military ID cards and personal diaries, confirmed they were part of the Pakistan Army. General Musharraf later admitted the military’s involvement.
2. Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad (2011)
Lie: Pakistan said it had no knowledge of Osama bin Laden’s presence.
Truth: He was living undisturbed for years in a compound near Pakistan’s premier military academy. The U.S. Navy SEALs conducted a raid without informing Pakistan, indicating mistrust. The Abbottabad Commission report confirmed negligence or possible complicity.
3. Balakot Air Strike (2019)
Lie: Pakistan claimed no damage or casualties in the Indian airstrike on a terror camp.
Truth: Satellite imagery and independent analysis showed structural damage to the Jaish-e-Mohammed facility. Pakistan cordoned off the area, restricting media access.
4. Capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan (2019)
Lie: Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian jets and captured two pilots.
Truth: Only one Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured and later released. Pakistan quietly withdrew its two-pilot claim.
5. Surgical Strikes (2016)
Lie: Pakistan denied any cross-border strikes took place.
Truth:International media confirmed Indian strikes across the LoC. Pakistan’s silence on retaliatory action hinted at the strike’s success.
6. Use of F-16s in 2019 Dogfight
Lie: Pakistan claimed it did not use F-16s against India.
Truth: Remnants of an AMRAAM missile, compatible only with F-16s, were recovered by India. U.S. reports hinted at inconsistencies in Pakistan’s F-16 inventory.
7. 26/11 Mumbai Attacks (2008)
Lie: Pakistan initially denied involvement and claimed the terrorists were non-state actors. Later their interior minister accepted but then after few years they again denied involvement.
Truth: Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani national, was captured alive. Investigations linked the attackers to Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISI. U.S. operative David Headley confirmed ISI’s role.
8. Taliban Safe Havens
Lie: Pakistan denied providing sanctuary to the Taliban and Haqqani Network.
Truth: U.S. drone strikes and intelligence exposed operational bases in Pakistan. Multiple American Presidents accused Pakistan of duplicity.
9. Balochistan Insurgency
Lie: Pakistan blamed foreign hands (mainly India) for the unrest.
Truth: Human rights organizations documented enforced disappearances, mass graves, and killings by the Pakistani military.
10. East Pakistan Genocide (1971)
Lie: Pakistan described it as a civil war and denied atrocities.
Truth: The Hamoodur Rahman Commission and reports by foreign journalists revealed genocide, mass rapes, and systematic killings by the army.
11. Air Strikes in Afghanistan
Lie: Pakistan denied cross-border strikes against the TTP.
Truth: Taliban officials and UN sources confirmed Pakistani airstrikes in Afghan territory that resulted in civilian casualties.
12. Kashmir Terrorism
Lie: Pakistan claimed to support Kashmir only diplomatically.
Truth: Captured terrorists, intelligence intercepts, and leaked documents showed direct ISI support for terror groups like Jaish and LeT.
13. Civilian Deaths in Anti-Terror Operations
Lie: Pakistan Army claimed precision operations with minimal collateral damage.
Truth: Reports from NGOs and local media revealed high civilian casualties, especially in Swat and Waziristan.
14. Nawaz Sharif’s Ouster (2017)
Lie: The military claimed neutrality in political affairs.
Truth: Leaked videos and statements from Nawaz Sharif indicated behind-the-scenes pressure from the military establishment.
15. Recent Claims on TTP’s Defeat
Lie: Pakistan claimed that the TTP had been crushed.
Truth: Ongoing attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan exposed the continued strength of the TTP.
16. The 1971 Surrender and Propaganda
Lie: During the 1971 war, Pakistan’s media claimed that the army was winning and Indian forces were being pushed back.
Truth: On December 16, 1971, 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered in Dhaka to Indian forces. Citizens were shocked; many learned of the defeat through foreign media like the BBC, not Pakistani news.
Conclusion
From battlefield deceptions to cover-ups of terrorism and human rights violations, the Pakistan Army’s history is littered with falsehoods. These denials not only damage Pakistan’s global credibility but have repeatedly betrayed its own population, leaving them disillusioned and misinformed. Until the military relinquishes its control over narratives and politics, these cycles of deception are likely to continue.
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