By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government on Friday issued an urgent call to global social media companies to immediately block accounts operated by banned terrorist groups, accusing them of exploiting platforms like X, Facebook, and WhatsApp to spread propaganda that threatens both national and international security.
At a joint press conference in the capital, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik pressed tech giants to take decisive action against these digital threats. The appeal follows Chaudhry’s warning earlier this week, when he flagged how a terrorist group was using WhatsApp channels to “disseminate hateful content and harmful narratives” during a statement on Wednesday. He had urged the platform and the global community to assist Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
“We are dealing with a new frontier of extremism,” Chaudhry said Friday, addressing reporters alongside Malik. “I want to request social media operators and platforms to cooperate with us on the blockage and removal of accounts, taking measures to stop mirror accounts and to share information of account holders who are operating these accounts.” He pointed out that these groups, some banned by the United States, the United Kingdom, and sanctioned by the United Nations, are actively operating on platforms including X, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Chaudhry tied the government’s request to Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP), a sweeping counterterrorism framework launched in 2014. The NAP mandates crackdowns on those spreading propaganda through media and social media, explicitly banning the glorification of terrorists and terrorist organizations in print and electronic formats, as well as measures to stop the abuse of the internet for terrorism. “This isn’t just a Pakistani problem,” he stressed. “These social accounts significantly enhance their social media presence, whether through their real names or pseudonyms. It poses a threat to our nation, citizens, and the rest of the world.”
Barrister Malik revealed that authorities have already identified 481 accounts linked to proscribed terrorist groups across various platforms and reported them to social media companies. “We’ve done our part in flagging these accounts,” he said. “Now we urge social media firms to share information about account holders to amplify counterterrorism operations in dealing with this newer threat.” He called for enhanced collaboration, stating, “We seek coordination between social media platforms and our law enforcement agencies on social issues and the presence of terrorist organizations on social media.”
Malik went further, proposing that companies deploy artificial intelligence to detect and automatically block such accounts, an idea Chaudhry echoed in his call for auto-detect and auto-block algorithms. To strengthen ties, Malik invited tech firms to establish a physical presence in Pakistan. “We will welcome social media platforms to set up offices in Pakistan for better coordination,” he said, framing it as a step toward more effective joint efforts in the digital realm.
The ministers identified several specific groups driving the problem, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Islamic State Khorasan Province, Balochistan Liberation Army, and Balochistan Liberation Front, all designated as terrorist organizations by the US and the UK Malik noted their active presence across platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram, underscoring a troubling trend. “Pakistan remains steadfast and is committed to our resolve to combat terrorism,” he said. “Apart from operating on the ground, we have seen new trends in the digital realm.”
Both officials emphasized Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, positioning the country as a frontline fighter now grappling with an evolving challenge. Chaudhry highlighted how terrorist groups are “working on social media, recruiting and actively disseminating propaganda” through WhatsApp and other platforms, a concern he first raised on Wednesday. Malik added that the 481 identified accounts are just the tip of the iceberg, urging companies to adopt stricter measures to uncover more.
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