Pakistan military establishes fake think tank in US to target jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, reports say
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As countries around the world prepare to respond to the incoming US administration of President Donald Trump, Pakistan appears to have literally invented a new approach.
It has been revealed that Pakistan’s military has set up a shadow think tank to promote content critical of Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and improve its image in the US. .
According to the news portal Drop Site News, the think tank Beltway Grid Policy Center only exists on the internet and all of its employees appear to be non-existent.
The report comes at a time when Pakistan, whose military intelligence agency reigns supreme, is spending millions of dollars controlling the flow of information on the internet. Just this month, it was revealed that the Pakistani government had allocated 2 billion Pakistani rupees to combat alleged fake news against the country. According to India Today, the initiative appears to be being promoted by Pakistan’s military’s intelligence wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), with the blessings of Army Chief General Asim Munir.
How was a “fake” think tank exposed?
When you visit Beltway Grid’s website, it seems like a normal thing.
The content focuses primarily on South Asia, with a focus on Pakistan.
However, searching for the staff member on the internet does not connect the staff member to a real person.
Drop Site News reports that the website has no physical office, no staff connected to real people, and has all the hallmarks of being a fake think tank.
Even if think tanks carry out lobbying activities on behalf of foreign organizations or individuals, such lobbying activities are regulated by law and such organizations must be registered.
Additionally, the portal points out that think tanks never use the word “lobby” even though they lobby on behalf of their clients and donors.
The portal points out that the use of “lobbying” in multiple titles such as “coordinator”, “lobbying and policy” and the use of phrases common in the use of the Pakistan military means that it He pointed out that this shows that it was a fake operation carried out by the government. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan imprisoned.
Last month, Beltway Grid released a report titled “Democracy Under Siege: The Economic Decline and Diplomatic Impact of Pakistan’s Protests,” stating that the November 2024 protests by Mr. Khan’s party, the PTI, could lead to inflation. It was claimed that it caused an increase in the value of the currency and a decline in the value of the currency, causing a 0.8% decline in the value of the currency. The decline in GDP corresponds to a loss of approximately 3 trillion Pakistani rupees.
Drop Site New reported that the numbers cited in the report are similar to internal Pakistan military reports that the portal claims to have accessed. According to the portal, this suggests that the think tank is an operation by the Pakistani military to influence public opinion in the United States, especially that of the incoming Trump administration.
The think tank deception is made clear by the fact that the organization launched without the launch parties and physical events that think tanks often do to expand their reach, make connections, and set the tone for their work. can also be determined.
