May 9, 2025: In a bizarre twist amid the escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, the Government of India’s media wing, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), took a sharp dig at Islamabad after the Pakistani Economic Affairs Division reportedly posted an appeal on X (formerly Twitter) asking international partners for additional funds to support its war efforts.
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According to reports, Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division stated it was suffering “heavy losses inflicted by the enemy” and appealed to the global community for aid to help de-escalate the growing conflict. The post triggered widespread embarrassment in Pakistan, leading officials to claim that their X account had been “hacked” — a claim met with widespread skepticism, including by international media such as Reuters.
Capitalizing on the moment, PIB trolled the Pakistani government with a well-known meme from the Bollywood film Golmaal, captioned, “Yeh Koi Tarika Hai Bheek Mangne Ka?” (Is this the manner to beg?). The meme quickly went viral, with thousands of users joining in the mockery.
Social media users didn’t hold back. One popular response featured a still from Phir Hera Pheri with the caption, “Only she can arrange funds now!” referencing the film’s iconic “money-lending” sequence, further poking fun at Pakistan’s ongoing financial crisis.
The trolling spree comes against the backdrop of rising military tensions. After India destroyed several terror camps across the border, Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks on Indian territories including Jammu, Srinagar, and Jaisalmer. With diplomatic ties at a low and both militaries on high alert, even minor moves on social media are becoming geopolitical flashpoints.
While Pakistan scrambles to contain the fallout from the controversial post and its “hacking” claim, India’s meme diplomacy appears to have struck a chord with netizens, highlighting how even humor has become a tool in modern cross-border narrative warfare.