New Delhi/Islamabad, December 22, 2025 – A forged document purporting to be an official Iranian statement blaming Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and militant groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed for the December 14 Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Sydney has gone viral on social media, exacerbating longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan.

The deadly attack, carried out by father-and-son duo Sajid Akram, 50 (an Indian-origin migrant who moved to Australia in the late 1990s), and Naveed Akram, 24 (Australian-born), killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration. Australian authorities, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have described it as an antisemitic terrorist act inspired by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology. Homemade ISIS flags were found in the suspects' vehicle, and investigations confirmed no links to organized networks beyond ideological inspiration. Sajid was killed by police at the scene, while Naveed has been charged with multiple counts of murder and terrorism offenses.

The fake document, dated December 20 and circulating primarily on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), falsely claimed Iran's foreign ministry accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack through ISI-backed groups. In reality, Iran's official response was a general condemnation of terrorism and violence, with no mention of Pakistan or specific blame. Fact-checks by independent outlets and statements from Iranian officials confirm the document is a forgery, absent from any verified government channels.

Accounts linked to Indian users and media amplified the document as "evidence" of Pakistani involvement, while Pakistani officials and social media users denounced it as deliberate disinformation aimed at defaming Pakistan. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused "hostile elements," including Indian and Israeli sources, of spreading the fake narrative shortly after initial misinformation wrongly identified one suspect as Pakistani-origin (later clarified as Indian-origin from Hyderabad).

Critics accuse sections of Indian media of spreading fake news to divert attention from the fact that the perpetrators were of Indian origin. Some outlets and social media posts emphasized the father's Indian background to stoke anti-Pakistan sentiment, despite Australian investigations finding no state-sponsored links and focusing solely on the duo's self-radicalization.

This incident highlights how misinformation can quickly inflame regional rivalries, even in unrelated international events. Australian police have urged the public to avoid unverified claims, warning they could hinder investigations and fuel unnecessary divisions. The Bondi attack probe continues, with reviews into intelligence failures and gun laws, but no evidence has emerged tying it to Pakistan, Iran, or any foreign state actor.