By Qamar Bashir
In the fog of war, truth is often the first casualty. As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, a dangerously false narrative is being pushed by Israeli-linked media outlets—one that falsely accuses Pakistan of issuing nuclear threats and aligning militarily with Iran. It alleges that Pakistan warned the United States and France that it would retaliate if Iran is attacked with nuclear weapons. These claims have no basis in reality—no official statements, no credible sources, no historical precedent. Yet, amplified by a sophisticated propaganda network, these unsubstantiated claims are being given the weight of fact, threatening to create justification for future aggression.
This narrative collapses under strategic scrutiny. Pakistan’s missile program is regionally focused, designed only to counter threats from India. Its delivery systems are not capable of reaching Israel, and Pakistan has never developed the long-range missile capability or refueling infrastructure needed for such operations. Furthermore, Pakistan lacks the aerial refueling capacity to sustain long-range missions, making any such threat logistically impossible. The very suggestion that Pakistan could or would launch nuclear weapons toward Israel is not only implausible—it is militarily impossible.
Likewise, comparing Pakistan to the United States as a strategic threat is absurd. Pakistan is a struggling economy with limited global influence, whereas the U.S. remains a superpower. By any metric—military strength, economic capacity, or diplomatic reach—Pakistan is not in a position to challenge U.S. interests. These claims are not only false; they are constructed to incite fear, provoke conflict, and shift the global narrative in Israel’s favor.
What we are witnessing is not misinformation—it is information warfare. For the first time in modern history Iranian missiles rained down on major Israeli cities, shattering the long-held illusion of invincibility. In response, Israel pivoted toward narrative control. By framing itself as a victim and targeting Pakistan with baseless accusations, it seeks to expand the war narrative and preemptively neutralize any potential Muslim voice of dissent.
Pakistan’s record stands in direct opposition to this manufactured threat. Time and again, it has demonstrated military restraint and strategic maturity. From the Kargil conflict to the Pulwama-Balakot standoff and ot the recent standoff between Pakistan and India after Pahalgam terrorists attack, Pakistan has shown that it acts defensively—even when provoked. The capture and swift return of an Indian pilot in 2019 reflected its desire to de-escalate, not inflame, conflict. Its nuclear doctrine is deterrence-based and region-specific. It has never engaged in offensive nuclear signaling beyond the India-Pakistan context. Pakistan does not seek global military entanglements; its entire military posture is defensive and grounded in regional stability.
Internally, Pakistan faces serious challenges—economic volatility, inflation, political instability, and a worsening poverty crisis. These conditions alone make foreign military engagement an untenable proposition. Pakistan is focused on survival, not strategic adventurism. The idea that it would involve itself in a Middle Eastern war—especially one involving Israel, the U.S., and possibly NATO—is not just far-fetched, it is suicidal. It lacks the resources, alliances, and intent to fight such a war.
The urgency of caution became even more pronounced after President Donald Trump fired his National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, on allegations of collusion with Israeli interests. Waltz was reportedly briefing Israeli officials from within the White House and encouraging the impression that the United States was fully backing Israel’s military operations.
His dismissal revealed how deeply Israel’s influence has penetrated not just Congress, but the American executive and intelligence establishment. This same covert lobbying network that engineered political consent for Israel’s attack on Iran could easily be redirected against Pakistan. The machinery that shaped U.S. perception of Iran can be repurposed to vilify Pakistan, manufacturing a threat where none exists. In light of this, Pakistan must tread with extreme care—strategically, diplomatically, and rhetorically.
Despite Trump’s official distancing from Israel’s unilateral strikes, his language betrays alignment. He reminded the world that the United States possesses “the most lethal weapons on earth” and added that Israel has “plenty of them.” While claiming non-involvement, the United States continues to support Israel with funding, military hardware, intelligence, and diplomatic protection. The public stance of neutrality contrasts sharply with the reality of strategic complicity.
It is within this shadow war of narratives that Pakistan is being framed. Its historic support for oppressed Muslim populations is being twisted into alleged military threats. Sympathy is being rebranded as hostility. Moral clarity is being turned into strategic posturing. This narrative war is not only aimed at distraction—it is laying the foundation for potential aggression.
The real threat to regional and global peace is not from Pakistan’s imaginary long-range nuclear capacity, but from Israel’s disinformation offensive and the West’s silent acquiescence. This manipulation of global opinion—via planted stories, distorted facts, and fabricated threats—is a deliberate campaign to manufacture consent for unjust wars. The world must recognize it, confront it, and reject it.
In these dangerous and volatile times, words can be more destructive than weapons. Pakistani leadership—civilian and military—must exercise extreme caution in public messaging. Statements made in Parliament, at press conferences, or in international forums can be manipulated and reframed by hostile actors.
Pakistan must not rise to this bait. It must remain anchored in its own national interest, grounded in realism, and focused on internal consolidation. The cost of strategic miscalculation at this juncture could be catastrophic. Diplomacy, backchannel engagement, and regional coordination should remain Pakistan’s only tools of influence. There is neither the space nor the mandate for military signaling.
Power without truth is tyranny. Military strength without accountability is chaos. In this dangerous moment, Pakistan’s most potent weapon is not force—but restraint, neutrality, and unwavering commitment to the truth.
By Qamar Bashir
Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Macomb, Michigan, USA
