The purported WhatsApp messages between Republic TV editor in-chief Arnab Goswami and a former CEO of the Broadcast Audience Research Council is continuing to make headlines.
The transcripts of the messages that were 'leaked' last week attracted much social media attention for Arnab flaunting his proximity to the Narendra Modi government.
Now, the Arnab Goswami WhatsApp transcripts are being played up in Pakistan for their references to the Pulwama suicide bomb attack, which left over 40 CRPF jawans dead in February 2019, and the Balakot air strike that India carried out in retaliation the same month.
In the transcripts, Arnab purportedly referred to the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019, as "This attack we have won like crazy". Three days before the Balakot air strike on February 26, 2019, Goswami purportedly wrote India's response would be “Bigger than a normal air strike. And on the same time something major on Kashmir. On Pakistan the government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated...”
Since 2019, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, his ministers and even the Pakistan Army have frequently alleged the Narendra Modi government could carry out 'false flag' operations to lay grounds for pursuing punitive action against Islamabad. In military terms, a false flag operation is typically a covert action carried out by a country, which then pins blame on another nation or actor.
Imran Khan tweeted on Monday the transcripts vindicated his government's claims about the Modi government's intentions.
Imran tweeted, "In 2019, I spoke at UNGA on how India’s fascist Modi govt used the Balakot crisis for domestic electoral gains. Latest revelations from communication of an Indian journalist, known for his warmongering, reveal the unholy nexus between the Modi govt & Indian media that led to a dangerous military adventurism to win an election in utter disregard for the consequences of destabilising the entire region. Pakistan averted a larger crisis by a responsible, measured response to Balakot. Yet, Modi govt continues to turn India into a rogue state."
Imran added "Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan, its abuses in IIOJK [Pakistan's name for Jammu and Kashmir] & a 15-year Indian global disinformation campaign against us all stand exposed. Now India's own media has revealed the dirty nexus that is pushing our nuclearised region to the brink of a conflict it cannot afford. I want to reiterate that my govt will continue to expose India's belligerent designs towards Pakistan & Modi govt's fascism. Int community must stop India from its reckless, militarist agenda before the Modi govt's brinkmanship pushes our region into a conflict it cannot control."
Foreign Office response
The Pakistan Foreign Office issued a statement on the Arnab Goswami Whatsapp transcripts.
"The recent transcripts revelations in India further vindicate our consistent position that RSS-BJP Govt. stages 'false flag' operations; maligns Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations; stokes hyper-nationalism in its bid to win elections," The Pakistan Foreign Office tweeted.
"The transcripts also illustrate the unholy nexus b/w the ‘Hindutva’ regime & its cronies in the Indian media. Such actions by the reckless regime driven by considerations of domestic politics are gravely imperiling regional peace and security. We hope that the international community would take full cognizance of the situation and hold India accountable for its actions vitiating the regional environment and endangering peace and security in South Asia," the Foreign Office added.
Senator Shibli Faraz, the minister for information and broadcasting in Imran Khan's government, also spoke about the Arnab Goswami transcript.
Faraz tweeted, "One after another India’s lies and deceptions are being unveiled to the world. From their support to terrorism in Pakistan, their disinformation campaign across the world, to their false flags. It vindicates Pakistan’s stance that Pulwama attack and Balakot crisis were false flag ops planned to whip anti-Pakistan sentiment for Modi’s election victory. The transcripts of an Indian anchor lay bare the unholy nexus between BJP’s Hindutva majoritarian gov, Indian intelligence and its war mongering media."
