There are two issues here of PDF being monitored.
I joined in 2015, at that time PDF was observed and monitored by international intel agency as well as DOD related companies. There was a member called "Centcom" or something, he was not one person. That was an account made and used to read the psychology of Pakistan youth on international forum because the issue of radicalization and extremism in Pakistani youth was evident during the deployment of USA/NATO Forces in Afghanistan and the subsequent operations as JF TFs inside Pakistan.
Now the issue at hand. The issue started during Bajwa tenure. After RS departure, many people (members and public) wanted Bajwa to the same COAS as RS, which wasn't the case. As far as i noticed, two members started speaking openly against him, one was Xestan and other was R-Wing. It was surprising for me since R-Wing said he was related to some Govt dept in Pakistan and has conenctions and what not. Surprising coz when someone has good connections inside Govt then they wouldn't jeopardize their job, life, friends, connections etc. Anyways, though not a fan of Bajwa, I knew how things went around in military and bureaucracy circle so I confronted both of them but this was the start.
At one point, the senior Mod at that time, Arsalan, talked to me and told me to pacify, I backed off. R-Wing and Xestan still kept going. This was followed up by posts in internal security where FC troops were getting hit and martyrdom. Me and PK gave clarification of how FC is handled by MOI, not COAS, apart from other things. However, no one wanted to understand how operations are planned, run and handled by FC or by military.
The seed had been sown to show disgruntled behavior against Military top brass- starting from talking against Bajwa.
After Feb 2019, many secrets were revealed on online forum regarding IAF and PAF operational strategy and the usage of fighter aircrafts and details about them. This prompted intel agencies (Pakistan and others) to scan BS, Indian defense, Sino defense and Pakistan defense forums. The use of Big data and data analysis was full on in swing at intel agencies during that time.
I had a hunch before that about the discussions on LOC firing and the count of deaths of soldiers from both sides were kept in record by Pakistani and Indian members. However that was sidelined. The brains of Indian members work up to cricket matches and run scoring, who scores more kills on LOC, and Pakistanis are emotional brats who want to then play tit for tat. Childish, so sidelined.
Post 2015, watsapp, FB, and other online media had been infiltrated by some intel agencies including Pakistani intel agencies. This was mainly to keep an eye on mobile communication using data to coordinate attacks by terrorists however the general public and Army personnel also started making groups for coordination and discussions, though not anti-state entirely.
When the issue of IK removal came then the crap really the fan. This was about emotions which leaves no space for wisdom to handle things. Before, I had talked to Waz who was senior Mod and told him which intel agency had recently scanned the forum and some posts containing sensitive data had to be deleted. So basically, PDF admin knew what was going on. I confronted Jango , Agnostic and other Title holders too. They started tp confront me. What is the use ?
But in reality what happened ? Every member who favored IK tried to become an egoistic hero on PDF. Open statements against Army, COAS, Generals, Govt officers, ministers, head of departments etc, You name it and there are abuses hurled against everyone in government positions. Not just that, against every politicians.
This is what PDF has become !
A place of hatred, a tool/medium to spread hate against Pakistan, Government officers, Military and state.
Webby has been made a scapegoat. His forum has been used by every coward who couldn't speak face to face or openly infront of Government. PK and I have tried to tell repeatedly, to clarify starting from how dry day works, how things work in Military HQs, how and why operations are conducted, about LOC, about martial laws, MRAPs, drones, FC Ops etc. This is to no avail since everybody thinks that whatever media says is correct as long as it suits their narrative. The truth is in the real life, its not in media spread online through different channels. So many topics are posted everyday but honestly 99% of them are rubbish with wrong information. Bajwa will take over Pakistan, Bajwa will get another extension, Bajwa will do martial law, etc, all just rubbish, all false, all lies. Bajwa is just one example. Abusing NS, Bilawal, Maraym, even PTI members, opening thread after thread as a counter to a previous thread. What really can you prove online ?
PDF mods and admin couldn't stop the flow of false information and then more useless discussions on them, more cursing, more abusing etc. Not all the information was wrong, there were ways to discuss it but with minds already made up and filled with hatred, what did you expect ?
I always kept telling that none of this affects GOP or Military, and it didn't and it wont. There was so much ego against me which blinded the members who replied my posts. I only laughed at the end but PDF going down is not what I expected since I knew mods are capable intelligent people. They are responsible people who though have lives to live in real but also are good people who understand how to carry out mod tasks.
A lot has happened since 2022, where as 2023 is ending. maybe deadline is 31st Dec 2023 and PDF may not live to see 2024.
This is what negativity does, it burns. This is the result of anger and anguish which wasn't channeled properly. If this is what we Pakistanis do, then unfortunately we deserve it. Problems, issues, tragedies, etc come in life as they are a part and parcel of life but there are ways to solve them, not through anger or hatred or abuses or frustration, but through patience and determination. I think members solve the issues in their lives first by hurling abuses at that issue, then show anger to everyone around them and start pointing at someone to blame but themselves. This is what their posts on PDF show A lesson is to be learnt here.
I wish PDF wasn't shutting down.
