In South Asia, truth is often the first casualty of geopolitical rivalry; restraint is usually a close second. The narratives surrounding the tragic killing of Sharif Osman Hadi—one propagated by Times of Islamabad on December 22, 2025, and the other amplified in a fiery video message by Kamran Sayeed Usmani of Pakistan’s ruling PML-N—exemplify this pattern. Rather than focusing on justice for a young Bangladeshi leader, these accounts prioritize political opportunism, ideological projection, and a familiar attempt to implicate India in regional instability.

The Times of Islamabad article asserts—without citing judicial findings or verifiable intelligence—that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had a “confirmed” role in Hadi’s assassination. Such a claim warrants immediate skepticism. Confirmed by whom? Based on what legal authority? Through which evidentiary process? The piece offers none. Instead, it relies on innuendo: alleged suspects fleeing “towards India,” spontaneous protests in Dhaka, and Hadi’s prior criticism of Indian influence. In rigorous investigative journalism, correlation does not equate to causation; in propaganda, insinuation suffices.

Even the article concedes, almost reluctantly, that Bangladeshi authorities have yet to produce “concrete evidence confirming foreign agency involvement.” International human rights organizations and the United Nations have called for impartial investigations, not geopolitical blame games. Yet, the narrative rushes forward, framing India as the orchestrator of Hadi’s murder—a conclusion drawn more from emotion than evidence. This is advocacy masquerading as journalism.

The claim is further undermined by basic strategic logic. India has historically prioritized stability in Bangladesh—politically, economically, and strategically. A violent assassination sparking riots, diplomatic crises, and electoral........

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