When was the term false flag operation first used?

Pakistan has termed the recent terrorist incident in Pahalgam area of occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a false flag operation.

This is not the first time that an act of terrorism in India has been declared a false flag. Earlier, the Pathankot attack in 2016, the Pulwama incident in 2019 and the attacks on foreign tourists in Pahalgam in 2024 have been termed as false flags not only by Pakistan but also by Indian politicians and international circles themselves.

False flag is a strategy in which a state or institution organizes an attack or event itself and puts the blame on its opponents.

The term first appeared in maritime wars, when ships attacked with enemy flags. Today, the term is widely used in world politics, covert operations, and hybrid warfare.

In addition to tensions between Pakistan and India, false flag operations are used as an effective propaganda tool during hybrid warfare around the world.

The biggest disadvantage of such actions is that along with the loss of human lives, there is an atmosphere of instability, hatred and distrust at the global level. Historically, the concept of false flag has been associated with pirates of the 17th century, when they used to move closer by waving the flags of friendly countries on their ships to deceive the enemy and harm their targets.