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Last Updated:May 14, 2025, 19:58 IST
TRT—viewed as a mouthpiece for Erdoğan’s foreign policy—has amplified anti-India propaganda through media outputs aligning with Pakistani and Chinese strategic narratives
TRT's X account was briefly banned in India on Wednesday. (Screengrab)
Turkish state-owned broadcaster TRT—widely viewed as a mouthpiece for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s foreign policy—has amplified anti-India propaganda through a series of media outputs aligning with Pakistani and Chinese strategic narratives. The broadcaster’s content, particularly on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered national security concerns.
The X handle of TRT was briefly banned in India in the early hours of Wednesday amid scrutiny over its coverage. A message “Account Withheld" popped up on screen when the users tried to access it in India.
Platform For Pro-Pakistan Propaganda
TRT has been accused of relentlessly portraying India as an “occupying force" in Kashmir, particularly through its controversial series “Kashmir Under Siege". The programme paints the Union Territory as being under illegal military control, echoing Islamabad’s long-standing position. The channel has repeatedly highlighted alleged human rights violations by Indian security forces and has given a platform to Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani officials, thereby undermining India’s sovereignty.
Foreign Influence Network and Information Warfare
Indian cyber agencies allege that TRT’s campaigns are not isolated acts of journalism, but rather part of a coordinated foreign influence network. Analysts have drawn links between TRT’s output and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), noting shared themes, synchronised messaging, and bot-driven social media amplification. The narratives often mirror Pakistan’s information operations, especially during times of unrest in Kashmir or Indo-Pak border tensions.
Echoing Beijing and Islamabad
Beyond Kashmir, TRT has been found to echo Chinese and Pakistani narratives on other sensitive issues. These include:
*Casting doubt on India’s claims in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh
*Justifying cross-border terrorism as “freedom struggles"
*Supporting Pakistan’s nuclear posturing and aggressive rhetoric
Islamophobia Frame: Selective Storytelling
TRT’s editorial line consistently frames India as an Islamophobic state, focusing heavily on domestic policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Register of Citizens (NRC), and the Hijab controversy. Intelligence reports suggest the channel selectively amplifies fringe incidents, portraying them as evidence of systemic oppression, thereby fueling communal discord both domestically and internationally.
TRT World’s coverage has sparked a debate that touches upon the aspects below:
1. Security Concerns:
TRT’s content was deemed to incite unrest, particularly in volatile regions like Kashmir. Intelligence inputs highlighted how some videos and articles circulated during communal tensions could radicalise youth and disrupt public order.
2. Disinformation and Fake News:
During the 2020 Delhi riots, TRT-affiliated accounts reportedly circulated misleading footage and unverified claims, including accusations of state-sponsored violence against Muslims—claims that were later debunked.
3. IT Rules Violations:
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) flagged TRT for non-compliance with India’s IT Rules (2021), including:
*Failure to appoint a grievance redressal officer.
*Ignoring takedown protocols.
*Repeated dissemination of anti-India propaganda and manipulated content.
4. Diplomatic Overreach:
India views TRT’s coverage as part of Ankara’s broader interference campaign. Turkey’s routine raising of the Kashmir issue at international forums like the UNGA and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has only worsened bilateral tensions. TRT’s editorial strategy is perceived as an extension of this diplomatic hostility.
A Message of Zero Tolerance
Sources within the Ministry of External Affairs indicated that the action against TRT sends a clear signal: India will not tolerate foreign media outlets acting as proxies for adversarial governments under the guise of journalism. “Freedom of the press cannot be a cover for geopolitical subversion," said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
Location : First Published:News india How Turkish Broadcaster TRT Peddled Anti-India, Pro-Pakistan Propaganda
