The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington-based organisation known for media monitoring in the Middle East and South Asia, recently launched its Balochistan Studies Project. What raised eyebrows in Pakistani strategic circles was Mir Yar Baloch’s appointment as a Special Advisor to the project. Although MEMRI claims to emphasise breaking down the language barrier between the West and the Middle East, it is suspected that the new initiative is a continuation of a rhetoric that will bring destabilisation to the most sensitive province in the country.
Founded in 1998, in its latest venture, MEMRI claims to shed light on the situation in Balochistan in terms of human rights and governance in the region, but MEMRI’s website is reeking with propaganda. It suffices to follow excerpts of the site to prove the rhetoric: “Balochistan is the perfect outpost to counter and keep under control Iran, its nuclear ambitions, and its dangerous relations with Pakistan, which may provide Tehran with tactical nukes. Baloch leaders, such as Hyrbyair Marri, renowned leader of the secular Free Balochistan Movement, stand against religious radicalisation in the region, against the regimes of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan and Iran, and against Chinese hegemonic ambitions. Hence, the international community should understand that Balochistan is a natural ally of the West.” Such initiatives are less about academic insight and more about shaping global opinion through curated narratives.
MEMRI was co-founded by an Israeli, Meyrav Wurmser, and former Israeli military intelligence officer and retired colonel Yigal Carmon. Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Shamir and Yitzhak Rabin also used Carmon as an advisor on counter-terrorism. American journalist Richard H Curtiss, in his article in the Arab News titled, “The Secret Life of Meyrav Wurmser”, describes Wurmser and her husband, David Wurmser—a major pro-Israel figure—as “the sharpest blade” in the ranks of those who pursue Israel’s global interests.
Moreover, the appointment of Mir Yar Baloch has increased the questions further. He is a social media activist, based in London, who fronts vocal Baloch separatism. He has earlier shown compassion towards the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which Pakistan refers to as a terrorist group. This claim to credibility by Mir Yar Baloch seems to be linked to the fact that he was affiliated with Hyrbyair Marri, who is the exiled leader of a Free Balochistan Movement. Marri himself has been siding with foreign powers who have been opponents of Pakistan and Iran over the years, and the Baloch cause has been dragged down to be a mere means to foreign policies. He has earlier voiced his solidarity with the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which Pakistan classifies as a terrorist organisation. His appointment is perceived to be politically motivated, which raises concerns about the impartiality of the initiative.
MEMRI has been the subject of criticism for being ideologically biased. Various scholars and media professionals have raised the issue with MEMRI that it often selects content that intensifies extremism and ignores balanced or moderate voices of the area. Besides the selective coverage, there has been increased concern about the accuracy of MEMRI’s translations. Claims of warped or skewed interpretations have also been observed in several studies as well as media publications, further adding to its lack of credibility as an objective research institution.
“Selective Memri”
Brian Whitaker’s article in The Guardian, titled “Selective Memri”, has described the organisation as essentially a propaganda operation with a clear pro-Israel tilt. He wrote, “The stories selected by Memri for translation follow a familiar pattern: either they reflect badly on the character of Arabs or they in some way further the political agenda of Israel. The institute also emphasises the continuing relevance of Zionism to the Jewish people and to the state of Israel.” Moreover, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations told the Washington Times: “Memri’s intent is to find the worst possible quotes from the Muslim world and disseminate them as widely as possible.”
Think tanks and pseudo-academic institutions have increasingly been used as tools in fifth-generation warfare (5GW) — a term used by military strategists to describe non-traditional warfare involving cyber influence, information manipulation, and psychological tactics.
As per the excerpts of the article in Global Regional Review, “5GW cultivation syndrome is sown to germinate the seeds of hate to sprout the divide and its unprecedented usage made to develop en-kindled arrow effect on target public fitted/directed in a free democratic society. The paradoxes are crafted by hostile think tanks, funded by their agencies and launched by media imposters and related spoofing agents. The prime objective of such campaign is to hit the ideological foundations and deprive the state institutions from populace support.”
The use of digital platforms and Western think tanks gives these narratives a veneer of legitimacy.
Both India and Israel have a long history of collaborating in defence and intelligence matters. Whereas the role played by India towards fomenting unrest in Balochistan is well documented. Whether it is the funding of BLA or the direct implication of RAW with the separatist movements, India has a long-term approach to fragment Pakistan internally. The arrest and confession of the Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav merely proved what Pakistan had been claiming for long. However, Israel’s hatred against the Muslim states is explicitly obvious. It seems another anti-Pakistan agenda by Indo-Israel, this time through the mask of academic cooperation. Nevertheless, there is sufficient circumstantial evidence of a coordinated strategy to vilify Pakistan through non-state platforms.
“Foreign forces have been meddling in Balochistan for long. Russia, US, India, Israel, UK, Afghanistan and Iran have been part of conspiracies against the province. They have been trying to incite the locals against its own state and its institutions, sponsoring insurgencies, and promoting propaganda,” states a research article in NDU Journal titled, “Balochistan Unrest: Internal and External Dimensions”.
A research paper published by Punjab University, titled, “Balochistan and Fifth Generation Warfare: Role of External Powers”, articulates, “Indeed, the formation of ‘Greater Balochistan’ has been the foremost agenda of US, India and Israel nexus.”
Interestingly, many local Baloch voices have rejected the portrayal of Balochistan as a province on the verge of collapse. A senior police officer of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan stated: “It is fact that Balochistan has not been given its rights, but the enemies are exploiting fault lines. A propaganda is based on half-truth that Balochistan has been kept deprive and undeveloped and its resources are being exploited by Punjab—a province where poverty is widespread with other socio-economic disparities.”
Development projects like CPEC have also been welcomed by tribal leaders and community organisations, despite challenges. The overarching sentiment in much of Balochistan remains pro-federation, albeit with demands for greater inclusion and transparency.
The MEMRI-led Balochistan Studies Project raises serious concerns over foreign interference masked as academic inquiry. With ties to Israeli intelligence and a history of ideological bias, MEMRI’s initiative appears to align with broader hybrid warfare tactics targeting Pakistan’s sovereignty. The appointment of separatist-linked individuals further questions its credibility. As external actors manipulate narratives, Pakistan must counter such efforts through transparent development, local empowerment, and strategic diplomatic outreach. Ensuring factual representation of Balochistan is vital to safeguarding national unity amid growing informational warfare.
