FACT CHECK: Did India Ask Pakistan to Hand Over Imran Khan as a Prisoner?

CLAIM

A letter claiming to be a “top-secret” communication from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has gone viral on social media.

FACT

The claim is completely false.

What Factcheck India Found?

The government’s fact-checking agency publicly debunked the document, stating that:

• The letter is not issued by the Ministry of External Affairs
• The claims made in it are fabricated and baseless
• The circulation of such misinformation is part of an ongoing disinformation campaign targeting India
• Citizens should verify information through official and trusted sources

PIB shared an official post on X (formerly Twitter) warning that these kinds of forged letters aim to mislead the public and should not be taken at face value.

BACKGROUND OF THE MISINFORMATION

This fake letter appears to have originated from propaganda-driven accounts on social media. The document is designed to look official, using formatting and language commonly found in government communications. However, no such correspondence exists. The document alleges that the Indian government requested Pakistan to transfer former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to New Delhi as a political prisoner. Several Pakistan-based social media accounts have shared the letter, claiming it exposes a confidential exchange between the two governments.

The claim tries to exploit the political sensitivity surrounding Imran Khan, who remains a contentious figure in Pakistan’s domestic politics. By circulating the forged letter, some accounts attempted to fuel speculation and create tension online.

There is no evidence, no official statement, and no government record supporting the idea that India ever sought Imran Khan’s custody. India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has confirmed that the viral document is fake and has no connection to the MEA or the Government of India.

VERDICT

FALSE. The viral letter claiming India asked Pakistan to hand over Imran Khan is fabricated.
There is no truth to the claim, and the document has been formally dismissed as fake.