Is Pakistan/UK 'disinformation' deal aimed at criminalising critics of the Islamabad dictatorship?

www.soldierspeaks.org Dear UK Government, counterterrorism cooperation must not become a convenient cover for transnational repression. https://x.com/soldierspeaks/status/2118055285285609623 Pakistan's Foreign Office proudly announces cooperation with the UK on combating online propaganda, social media activity and emerging technologies. But whose definition of “propaganda” and “terrorism” are we talking about? When a state is accused of criminalising dissent, intimidating journalists, persecuting political opponents and targeting critics abroad, its demands for cooperation on online speech deserve exceptional scrutiny. Will British authorities distinguish genuine terrorist threats from peaceful political criticism? Will they safeguard UK-based journalists, dissidents and human rights defenders against politically motivated allegations originating from Pakistan? The UK must never allow legitimate counterterrorism cooperation to become a backdoor mechanism for surveillance, censorship or intimidation of people exercising their fundamental rights. Fighting terrorism is a legitimate responsibility. Silencing critics of those in power is not. And if Pakistan's authorities want to discuss online propaganda, perhaps they should first explain why criticism of powerful generals is so often treated as a national security threat. Request to the British Pakistanis: Please tag your MP and the Home Office https://x.com/soldierspeaks/status/2118055285285609623 Pakistan, Britain hold counter-terror dialogue https://tribune.com.pk/story/2638722/pakistan-britain-hold-counter-terror-dialogue Islamabad, London pledge deeper security cooperation Pakistan and the UK on Wednesday held their annual Counterterrorism (CT) dialogue, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson, both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation in counterterrorism at bilateral and multilateral forums. The two sides held detailed and constructive discussion on the evolving global and regional security environment and exchanged views on the threats posed by terrorist entities, including transnational terrorist networks. Both sides expressed concerns over the continuing threat posed by terrorist groups, including the TTP, operating in and from Afghanistan, underscoring the urgent need for a stable, secure Afghanistan as a cornerstone for lasting peace and prosperity across the region. Both sides also reviewed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The dialogue also focused on exchange of best practices and exploring new avenues for partnership to counter new trends in terrorism including misinformation/disinformation campaigns, exploitation of social media platforms and emerging technologies. During the discussion both sides acknowledged Pakistan's contributions to regional stability and security. Pakistan and the UK agreed to strengthen institutional linkages and maintain regular engagement to advance shared counter-terrorism objectives. Inside Pak’s disinformation campaign on Pahalgam attack: An army of AI bots and influencers https://www.firstpost.com/world/inside-pakistani-disinformation-campaign-on-pahalgam-attack-an-army-of-ai-bots-and-influencers-13894025.html Even as India was ascertaining the magnitude of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan had started a disinformation campaign involving state propagandists, Western influencers with millions of followers, and an army of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven bots, according to an investigation by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). Even before Indians knew the scale of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan had begun its disinformation campaign that sought to convince its Western audience that it was an Indian false flag operation, according to an investigation by Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University. The promptness with which Pakistan began its disinformation campaign adds to the suspicion that Pakistani establishment had prior knowledge of the Pahalgam plot. As Firstpost has previously reported, Pakistan’s actions immediately after the Pahalgam attack, ranging from emptying terrorist launchpads in border areas to ramping up military activities, suggested that it had wargamed the response to the attack well in advance. Prasiddha Sudhakar, a researcher at NCRI, tells Firstpost that the Pakistani disinformation campaign began even before India had gathered the basic information about the attack, such as the number and identities of those killed...