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Zaki Khalid Profile picture
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Apr 6 • 11 tweets • 6 min read
#OSINT #propaganda #deception

THREAD: An account named “Kane Dectru” presents itself as an Argentine-Russian ‘analyst’; has been observed sharing political rhetoric favouring Imran Khan/ PTI.

Dissection of the account and its online behaviour can be read in this thread.
Sample tweets propagated by the account:-
1: archive.vn/jDhg1
2: archive.vn/e9T9T
3: archive.vn/qDbhw
4: archive.vn/A3Nos
This account was created on 4 May 2011 and has only tweeted 135 times (till the time of compiling this thread). Was completely dormant from 2012-2020.
The account has been observed spreading pro-PTI hashtags since 2021. Samples below:-

1. archive.vn/LR5rb
2. archive.vn/991Lu
The more interesting finding is the profile photo of this account. Appears to show a white male with a slightly-visible flag of Canada in the background:-
An extended reverse-image search revealed this is actually a distorted photo of David Usher, Canada’s Acting Consul General in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and NW Indiana (US).

Link to his original govt-issued photo: media.bizj.us/view/img/12223…
Some original impressions from the original image have been marked by me below for comparison:-

Left: Edited/ fake
Right: Original

I strongly believe that a face editing app was used (available in various types) to add 'hair' and a 'smile', hence the image distortions.
Available open source evidence confirms that the account is a manufactured persona that is used to propagate pro-PTI narratives.
The account has also spoofed its geolocation on multiple locations: Fake entries from US (Houston, New York) and Argentina. This is a more nuanced technique used by propagandists to add 'credibility' to their sock-puppet.
Various Twitter analytics tools (including Twitonomy) reveal most of those engaging with this sock-puppet's content (RTs and favourites) are social media activists sympathetic to the PTI.
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More from @misterzedpk

Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Apr 5
The timing of PM's visit to Russia was a strategic blunder. Advisers were either pushing vested interests (re-camping, energy contracts etc) or were plain incompetent to see the horizon. Even if Donald Lu never existed, that visit was severely ill-considered.
Putin has never visited Pak even once, despite ruling for more than two decades. Gen Kayani reluctantly opened avenues, but cautiously. Apparently more to do with diversifying def procurement base than 'camp politics'.
Certain fed cabinet members in PTI, on the other hand, have been viciously trying to move Pak into the 'Iran-Russia' orbit. Pak remains part of the US-led regional security order, of which remittance-rich Arab Gulf also a part.
Read 5 tweets
Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Apr 3
There's an unspoken honour code upheld by responsible govts worldwide: Back-channel discussions recorded in official docs should be restricted to relevant quarters, can be declassified for public consumption after vetting in a certain time (usually two to three decades).
If/ when back-channel talks agree to publicise mutually agreed matters, the needful is done accordingly through joint press conferences, communiqués, etc.
Beyond party politics, the Chief Executive of Pakistan has the responsibility to uphold and exhibit national integrity by respecting certain red lines, whether they like it or not. Political and official advisers have a duty to guide step-by-step.
Read 8 tweets
Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Mar 18
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is largely (mis)perceived as a 'technical' subject that requires knowledge of programming languages and/ or white-hat hacking.

Sharing some of my thoughts to clear these (mis)perceptions 🧵
1. OSINT involves a methodical approach in extracting public information scattered across the Surface Web, Deep Web and Dark Web. As such, it is based more on 'techniques' instead of 'tools'; latter usually used to automate tedious manual work.
2. OSINT practitioners are required to develop a defined Intelligence Collection Plan (ICP) to focus on prioritised data collection activities, similar to how programmers develop flowcharts.
Read 15 tweets
Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Mar 14
I've compiled open source profiles of hundreds of public personalities over the past ~12 years.

Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from my individual experience 🧵
1. Academic/ educational history usually reveals a subject's hometown i.e. place of birth. This is essential to further make sense of the area's socio-cultural and demographic makeup.
2. Career records (chronological) offer interesting loopholes and/ or turning points to pinpoint noteworthy transitions in a subject's social (and also financial) well-being. Watch out for the missing time periods.
Read 14 tweets
Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Mar 12
India's mismanagement of sensitive military assets merits a joint inquiry, as rightly sought by Pakistan. Just curious why the Chairman of National Command Authority (PM), nor the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (President), raised the issue in a live address heads-on.
There is apparently a lot ongoing in domestic politics (doesn't it always?) that we didn't have time for a televised address. A clear message directed toward Indian leadership can add pressure and attract the interest of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad.
We keep 'urging' the international community to take notice of such issues, heads of state can do that using their authority and influence. Press briefings are insufficient.
Read 4 tweets
Zaki Khalid Profile picture
Sep 21, 2021
Please follow this comprehensive thread for insights.
27 Jun 2021: NZ Cricket Chief Executive David White said that their team would tour Pakistan but only 'if security arrangements are satisfied'
Source: archive.is/ShL6k
01 Jul 2021: PCB Board of Governors are briefed about engagements with foreign consultants Restrata (UK) and ESI Risk (Australia/UAE).
Archived: archive.is/X1eTd
Read 42 tweets

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