Minister flays Indian media's ‘false’ terror threat claims in Pakistan amid Champions Trophy

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has rubbished claims made by Indian media that there is a potential terror threat against foreigners attending the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

Tarar robustly defended the country's ability to host the mega event, labelling it as "peacefully and very ably" organised.

His comments come in response to claims from Indian media outlet News18, which reported that Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau had reportedly issued a high alert over a supposed terror threat from "active covert groups" aimed at abducting foreign attendees for ransom.

"Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau issued a high alert on Monday, warning the country's security forces about an alleged plot by 'active covert groups' to abduct foreign guests attending the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for ransom," the report said.

"In response to the intelligence warning, Pakistan's security forces have deployed high-level protection teams, including rangers and local police, to ensure the safety of players and their accompanying staff," it added.

Tarar vehemently dismissed these allegations, accusing Indian media of attempting to politicise sports and spread propaganda.

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team remains absent from the host country, opting to play its fixtures in Dubai.

"I would like to state on record that Pakistan is peacefully and very ably hosting the ICC Champions Trophy," the information minister told Geo News.

"Our grounds are full, we have fans from all over the world, the crowds are jubilant, our streets are filled with people who are celebrating the victory of cricket but the Indian media, which is a subservient media, is trying to do politics and spreading false propaganda against Pakistan which is unacceptable and totally untrue."

He stressed that Pakistan "is one of the safest venues and we have been able to conduct the ICC matches very very peacefully and very efficiently."

He also emphasised that reports were another attempt by India to "sabotage" sports in Pakistan.

"They don't desist from it. They can't swallow that a major sports and ICC tournament has been held in Pakistan and they are extremely worried about this," he said.

"Before as well they tried to spread a lot of propaganda about this and tried to sabotage the ICC tournament through various excuses so we think they are extremely pained by this."

Tarar recalled the match between England and Australia at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium which he had attended and said that he could not find the words to describe the atmosphere and sentiment on the day with the stadium packed with no place to stand.

"Not just Pakistan, there were a lot of fans from England and Australia and I met a lot of Britishers there. This was a victory for Pakistan that such a great match between England and Australia was held in a Pakistani sports ground," he said.

"Their false propaganda of a low turnout died its own death. Now these false threat alerts that are being run are completely baseless, fake and concocted propaganda.

"The BCCI cannot stay without mixing sports with politics. They are extremists, fundamentalists and hardliners who attempt to mix sports with politics even in the sports grounds with their venomous propaganda."

He brought up other reports about a New Zealand cricketer's phone being stolen and added that resorting to such propaganda in an attempt to gain success could not be sustained.

Tarar said Pakistan rejected such propaganda and reiterated that the country was doing a "great job" about holding the tournament and would continue to do so.

"This is a very important moment for Pakistan and you will see the way cricket is being played in these grounds will be a victory for the citizens of the world and sports.

"India's propaganda will fall flat on its face and it will not only be exposed but we will tell the people that India cannot digest that such a great tournament is taking place in Pakistan and we have been able to do it very successfully."