Pakistan’s propaganda machinery suffered another major embarrassment after false claims about Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh were exposed. Pakistani media and social media handles had claimed that she was captured as a prisoner of war after her fighter jet was shot down during Operation Sindoor.
However, on Wednesday morning, the reality came into full view. Squadron Leader Singh stood beside President Droupadi Murmu at the Ambala Air Force Base in Haryana, smiling and strong. She gave the President a hands-on tour of the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets, once again showcasing the strength and confidence of the Indian defense forces.
The photo of the two — the President and the Squadron Leader standing proudly before a Rafale — was a powerful message that dismantled yet another false Pakistani narrative.
False Claims During Operation Sindoor
Back in May, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military retaliation after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, which killed 26 people.
Following this, Pakistan’s media and online propaganda networks claimed multiple “military victories,” including the shooting down of six Indian aircraft, one of which they alleged was a Rafale. None of these claims was true.
The Indian government and the Indian Air Force (IAF) released official data and visual proof confirming that no Indian aircraft had been shot down. In contrast, Pakistan lost six aircraft, including four US-made F-16s, China’s JF-17 jets, and a ‘big bird’ AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) plane.
Fact-Check Debunks False Capture Claims
Among the many false claims, one of the most circulated was that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh’s plane had been disabled and she was captured. Several Pakistan-based social media accounts shared fabricated videos suggesting that the Air Chief Marshal had visited her “grief-stricken family.”
India’s fact-check unit promptly responded. It stated, “Pro-Pakistan social media handles claimed an Indian female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is fake!”
The videos used in these false claims were later verified to be unrelated. They actually showed the Air Chief Marshal visiting the family of Sergeant Surendra Kumar, who had died fighting during Operation Sindoor.
The Indian Air Force also confirmed that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh was alive, safe, and “performing her operational duties.”
A Symbol of Courage and Truth
The sight of Squadron Leader Singh standing proudly with President Murmu served as a visual rebuttal to Pakistan’s disinformation campaign. It symbolized India’s military strength, the dedication of its officers, and the importance of truth in the age of propaganda.
