Pakistan’s military has officially denied the viral claim that it captured an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot during the 100-hour-long military escalation between India and Pakistan. The clarification came shortly after the Indian Air Force confirmed that all its pilots had safely returned from ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“I can confirm that we don’t have any (Indian) pilots in custody. This is all part of social media chatter and part of fake news and propaganda generated from multiple sources,” said Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during a press briefing.
Chaudhry, who has been the face of Pakistan’s narrative during the ongoing conflict, effectively refuted the very claims his nation’s social media ecosystem had been promoting.
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PIB Busts Fake News About Female Pilot’s Capture
Prior to the ISPR clarification, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) had issued a fact-check addressing the widely circulated social media claim that Squadron Leader Shivani Singh had been captured by Pakistan.
“Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured,” said PIB, adding, “Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE!”
Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured?
Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… pic.twitter.com/V8zovpSRYk
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025
The agency also dismissed reports that an Indian pilot had ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, terming it fabricated.
IAF Confirms All Pilots Are Safe
Air Marshal AK Bharti, while addressing the media on Operation Sindoor, reaffirmed that all IAF personnel involved in the mission had safely returned.
“We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat. However, we have achieved all our objectives, and all our pilots are back home,” said Bharti.
He added, “We have downed a few Pakistani planes,” but refrained from sharing exact numbers, citing technical evaluations still underway.
“Pakistani aircraft were prevented from entering Indian airspace, so we don’t have wreckage, but we are certain of the hits,” he noted.
Operation Sindoor was India’s response to a terror attack in Pahalgam and saw precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The current narrative from both sides highlights the evolving information war that accompanies real-world military operations.
