‘#Sanction Pakistan’ campaign on social media platforms by Afghans, blaming Pakistan for rising violence in their country, seems to have rattled senior Pakistani officials who alleged the whole campaign was led by Afghan and Indian users to “malign” Islamabad. 

The campaign--which garnered over 750,000 tweets by Wednesday evening-- calls upon the international community and the United Nations to put sanctions on Pakistan for what they say abetting terrorism in Afghanistan and the region. The Taliban, the key player responsible for violence, has received material support and sanctuaries in Pakistan. 

As the Taliban offensive disrupted normal life in Afghanistan, uprooting millions and pushing thousands of people to sleep on roads, angry Afghans took to social media to vent out their frustration. 

However, on the other hand, Pakistan National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf issued a counter to the campaign, which started receiving global attention. Calling it an attempt to “malign” Pakistan, Yusuf alleged this was part of a “misinformation” and “propaganda”  campaign led by Indias and Afghans. 

He along with the country's Minister for Information and Technology Fawad Chaudhary held a press conference in Islamabad and also released a full digital report which, they claimed, contained analytical reports and facts on so-called propaganda campaigns.   

He also alleged that Afghans after failing to deter the Taliban’s advances in the country had been trying to shift the blame of their losses on Pakistan. 

"Afghanistan has a volatile situation now, but let me tell you Afghan and Indian accounts are being used to malign Pakistan," he was quoted as saying by Dawn news. He added 'Sanction Pakistan' was widely trended on Twitter to create a narrative against the country.

For many, the conflict is no more just an insurgency waged by the Taliban, it has become a full-fledged invasion of their country by Jihadis and extremists backed by Pakistan. For ordinary Afghans, who have been the victims of an ending conflict for forty years, the conflict is a proxy war waged by its neighbor, Pakistan. 

Habib Khan, an Afghan journalist, and Chris Alexander, a former Canadian minister and diplomat, have remained at the forefront of the campaign, which was also joined by thousands of other influencers from other countries, sharing the same notion. 
  
Chris Alexander is known for his strong views on Pakistan. The Foreign Office in Pakistan had earlier condemned his remarks, calling him “prejudiced and motivated”. Some reports also showed that Pakistan’s Consulate General in Canada had also written to the ruling Conservative Party, seeking action against him. 

(SAM)