Press Release – ISSI and Digital Debate commemorate one year of Marka-e-Haq with a...

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Press Release - ISSI and Digital Debate commemorate one year of Marka-e-Haq with a Seminar

Press Release
ISSI and Digital Debate commemorate one year of Marka-e-Haq with a Seminar
May 13, 2026

India Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI), and Digital Debate jointly hosted a Seminar titled "Marka-e-Haq: Victory in the Battlefield and Beyond". Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar graced the occasion as Chief Guest while the former Foreign Minister Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani was the Guest of Honour. The speakers included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman ISSI; Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi, Foreign Office Spokesperson, Air Marshal (Retd) Farooq Habib, former Vice Chief of Pakistan Air Force; Ms. Nasim Zehra, renowned author and anchorperson; Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director ISC at ISSI; and Mr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Arbi, Defense Analyst.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood observed that the month of May has repeatedly emerged as a defining month in Pakistan's strategic history. He noted that Pakistan's response in May conflict combined battlefield success with diplomatic outreach, information management, and political coherence, projecting the country as a confident, responsible, and resilient state committed to regional peace while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty and security interests. Highlighting the role of the armed forces, diplomats, media, and strategic experts in countering disinformation and shaping international discourse, Chairman ISSI stressed the need to transform these strategic gains into long-term institutional, economic, diplomatic, and intellectual strength through continued national unity and strategic foresight.

The Chief Guest, Attaullah Tarar called out India for relying on unsubstantiated allegations and politically motivated narratives following a false flag operation, noting that an FIR was registered within minutes without credible investigation or evidence. He emphasized that Pakistan effectively countered misinformation through timely and fact-based engagement with international media and diplomatic forums, further strengthened by Pakistan's offer for a transparent joint investigation, which remains unanswered. Highlighting the role of the younger generation in the information domain, he said Pakistan successfully projected its narrative globally while exposing the weaknesses and contradictions in India's claims. He also praised the professionalism of Pakistan's Armed Forces and the role of indigenous technological capabilities in defending the country, noting that national unity enabled Pakistan to emerge stronger and more respected internationally, while attempts to isolate or intimidate Pakistan ultimately failed.

Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani observed that India's aggressive posture toward Pakistan has intensified since 2014 under the leadership of Narendra Modi, with anti-Pakistan rhetoric and allegations repeatedly being used for domestic political purposes. Referring to the events of May 2025, he argued that the crisis followed a familiar pattern of false flag operations and attempts to blame Pakistan, citing past incidents such as Pulwama and Chattisinghpura. He noted, however, that India's narrative failed to gain international acceptance due to growing global concerns over India's transnational assassination campaigns, the rise of Hindutva-driven extremism targeting minorities, and its increasingly strained relations with neighbouring South Asian states. Ambassador Jilani further remarked that India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty generated serious international concern, with experts viewing the weaponization of water as irresponsible and destabilizing.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr Khurram Abbas, Director India Study Centre, emphasized that the conflict last May was imposed upon Pakistan despite its efforts to avoid armed confrontation, yet the country's response conveyed a clear strategic message that coercion and intimidation as instruments of foreign policy would neither be accepted nor succeed in the region. Highlighting the centrality of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, he noted that continued uncertainty and the absence of a just resolution remain a persistent source of instability in South Asia.

Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi presented a comprehensive overview of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to counter India's maligning campaign targeted at Pakistan. He stated that the Prime Minister's offer for joint investigation played pivotal part in favoring Pakistan's narrative international recognition. In the course of two weeks, the Foreign Minister dialed up with 60 capitals across the globe. He concluded that while India continued to propagate misleading narratives, global attention increasingly shifted toward Pakistan's perspective, with its enhanced credibility translating military success into meaningful diplomatic capital.

While discussing the kinetic aspects of the May 2025 conflict, Air Marshal Farooq Habib highlighted the preparations made by Pakistan Air Force, in coordination with Army and the Navy, in order to convert the tactical achievements into strategic gains. He called for vigilance and proactive approach, while underscoring the changing character of war, driven by advanced technologies, unmanned air vehicles, and a less likelihood of direct physical contact.

In her remarks, Ms. Nasim Zehra noted that Pakistan continues to resist India's hegemonic tendencies in South Asia while adapting to evolving security dynamics, including developments in IIOJK. She further highlighted Pakistan's strengthening strategic partnerships, particularly with China and expanding engagement in West Asia, and its growing role as a responsible diplomatic actor contributing to regional dialogue and stability.

Ahmad Hassan Al-Arabi emphasized that strategic narrative formation has become a core pillar of modern power, where mobile platforms, AI, OSINT, and citizen journalism now define the information battlefield. He noted that contemporary disinformation ecosystems by India operate through large-scale propaganda and saturation of the information space, often blending fact and fiction to distort narratives and shift adversaries into a reactive position. He stated that Pakistan's approach during the May 2025 events marked a shift by prioritizing truth, transparency, and real-time communication, effectively countering a highly resourced disinformation apparatus. He further highlighted the role of digital media practitioners and youth-led "digital warriors" in shaping the narrative space through innovative tools such as memes and humor, underscoring that perception itself has become a decisive force multiplier in modern conflicts.

The event concluded with a group photo.

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