New Delhi, April 1
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday strongly refuted circulating reports claiming that India has formally sought observer status in the so-called "Islamabad Peace Process", terming them completely fake.
In an official post on its X handle, @MEAFactCheck, the MEA's fact-checking unit cautioned citizens against believing such misleading claims and urged them to rely on verified information.
The ministry clarified that no such request has been made by India and described the viral reports as baseless.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also termed the reports fake and urged people to remain cautious about the growing spread of disinformation, particularly on sensitive foreign policy matters.
The claim appears to have originated from unverified social media posts suggesting that New Delhi was seeking to join a peace initiative linked to Islamabad.
The MEA's prompt clarification is aimed at preventing any confusion or diplomatic misinterpretation, especially in the context of India's consistent position on issues concerning Pakistan and regional peace processes.
India has long maintained that it does not engage in any bilateral or multilateral peace talks sponsored or mediated by Pakistan unless there is credible and verifiable action against cross-border terrorism and dismantling of terror infrastructure operating from its soil. New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that dialogue and terrorism cannot go together.
The MEA FactCheck unit regularly monitors and counters false narratives, including misinformation, deepfakes and propaganda aimed at distorting India's foreign policy positions.
In recent months, it has debunked several such claims, including those related to India's diplomatic engagements in West Asia and other global forums.
Officials noted that the spread of such fake news not only misleads the public but also risks creating confusion in diplomatic circles.
The ministry advised citizens as well as media organisations to rely only on official government sources for accurate information on foreign policy matters.
The incident once again underlines the challenges posed by the rapid spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
The government has been strengthening its fact-checking mechanisms to enhance transparency and counter attempts to undermine India's national interests.
The MEA reiterated that India remains committed to peace and stability in the region, but any meaningful engagement must be based on sincerity, action against terrorism, and respect for India's territorial integrity and security concerns.
As of now, there has been no official statement or communication from the Government of India supporting the viral claim regarding observer status in any "Islamabad Peace Process".
- IANS
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