In response to India’s successful precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, Indian sources have accused Pakistan of initiating a widespread disinformation campaign to distort facts and mislead public perception. The strikes, conducted in retaliation to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, targeted nine locations using 25 missiles, kamikaze drones, and precision-guided bombs. The operation began around 1 am and concluded efficiently within 25 minutes.
False narratives flood social media
According to official sources, “Pro-Pakistan social media handles and even influential political figures are deliberately spreading fake news, fabricating stories of miraculous military victories and heroic retaliation that simply do not exist.” They further alleged that Pakistan is employing familiar tactics such as sharing outdated images, old videos, and fabricating stories to drown factual information in a sea of misinformation.
Fake claims debunked by Indian authorities
One viral false claim suggested that a Rafale jet was shot down near Bahawalpur. PIB Fact Check later confirmed that the image was from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab. Another claim made by Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that Indian forces surrendered at Chora Complex under shelling—a claim dismissed as entirely baseless.
“By lending official weight to an unverified and clearly false story, Tarar not only misled his own citizens but also actively contributed to the propaganda campaign,” an Indian source said.
Pakistan retracts unverified claims
Other misleading statements included claims of an Indian Brigade HQ being destroyed—debunked with evidence showing the footage was from sectarian violence in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also claimed Indian soldiers were taken prisoner post-Operation Sindoor, only to later retract his statement when pressed for proof.
“Pakistan has unleashed a full-blown disinformation offensive—a desperate attempt to shift the focus and control the narrative with a barrage of lies and digital theatrics,” an official source stated.
Indian officials maintained that these tactics are intended to obscure the success of Operation Sindoor and fabricate a counter-narrative to cover up Pakistan’s vulnerabilities.
