India must stop campaign against Pakistan; Masood Khan
MUZAFFARABAD: The recent wave of Indian propaganda aimed at maligning Pakistan’s strategic program is baseless, malicious, and driven by panic over the deepening Pakistan-US partnership, said Ambassador Masood Khan, Former President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan’s former envoy to the United States, in an interview here on Monday.
He emphasized that while Pakistan has had a historically fluctuating relationship with the United States over the past seven decades, the current phase represents a strategic realignment rooted in mutual respect, regional cooperation, and shared interests.
“We have always realigned our interests after periods of turbulence. What we see now is a recalibration by the United States that rebalances its ties with both India and Pakistan,” he said.
Ambassador Masood Khan highlighted the pivotal developments following the May 2025 India-Pakistan war, particularly the United States’ successful mediation and ceasefire facilitation. “Pakistan’s conduct during the war was responsible and statesmanlike. We congratulated and thanked the US for preventing escalation, and this mature diplomacy has been appreciated in Washington,” he stated.
He cited the unprecedented meeting between President Trump and Field Marshal General Asim Munir as a landmark event, underlining the trust and warmth currently shaping bilateral military and diplomatic ties. “This level of engagement—hosting a foreign army chief at the White House—is unparalleled and speaks volumes about the direction of Pak-US relations,” he added.
Commenting on India’s disinformation campaign, Ambassador Khan pointed to recent efforts by New Delhi to revive false allegations that Pakistan is developing an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capability aimed at the United States.
“These are fabricated stories, recycled by Indian-backed voices within US think tanks, designed to mislead policymakers and undermine Pakistan’s image. Our missile program is India-specific, a defensive deterrent including coverage of Indian bases in the Andaman, Nicobar, and potentially Indian-operated outposts like Mauritius and Madagascar.”
He noted that India’s own capabilities far exceed regional requirements, with Agni-5 and the under-development Agni-6 missiles capable of reaching 8,000–16,000 kilometers. “It is India—not Pakistan—that already possesses ICBM-range systems. Yet, it is Pakistan that is targeted with fake narratives.”
Responding to reports in Western media and Indian-backed publications, Khan warned against the manipulative ecosystem that channels such disinformation into US policymaking circles. “This small but influential clique operates to demonize Pakistan and distort the truth. These false claims are not grounded in fact or logic. They are a result of India’s frustration over the growing recognition of Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state.”
The Ambassador also pointed to India’s alarming safety and security record, referencing the accidental firing of a BrahMos missile into Pakistan in 2022 and multiple documented instances of nuclear material theft and smuggling from India. “These are not just hypothetical risks. India’s nuclear command and control, combined with its extremist policies and regional aggression, form a dangerous mix.”
Ambassador Khan asserted that India’s attempts to portray Pakistan as a nuclear threat to the United States are irrational and illogical, especially given the close people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the US, including a large, peaceful Pakistani-American diaspora. “The idea that Pakistan would target the United States—its longstanding partner—is a gross misrepresentation.”
He concluded by affirming that the net beneficiary of current regional dynamics is Pakistan, particularly in military cooperation, economic engagement, and trade. “Our strategic location and mature diplomacy are being acknowledged globally. India’s hysteria and misinformation campaigns have only served to further isolate it.”
The interview has been widely lauded in diplomatic, academic, and policy circles for its depth, clarity, and robust defense of Pakistan’s principled position. Ambassador Khan urged Islamabad to continue exposing Indian falsehoods and reinforce credible, fact-based narratives on global platforms.
