Pakistan’s false claims flood social media after Operation Sindoor
A PIB fact check has clarified that the specific video presented as evidence claiming the Srinagar Airbase was attacked is old and unrelated to the incident
In the aftermath of ‘Operation Sindoor’ conducted by the Indian Air Force, which targeted nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, there has been a wave of false information in social media.
Pro-Pakistani social media have been spreading misinformation claiming that Pakistani Air force has targeted and attacked the Srinagar airbase in India, which has been proven to be false.
Widespread misinformation
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), saw a flood of posts from high-follower accounts aligned with Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Many of these posts falsely claimed that Pakistan had launched missile strikes at 15 locations inside India or that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had successfully targeted the Srinagar Airbase or even destroyed an Indian Army Brigade headquarters.
Despite the lack of any credible evidence, these claims spread rapidly, amplified by Pakistani media outlets and social media influencers. This deliberate disinformation campaign has added to the confusion surrounding the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
Also Read: Pak PM Sharif terms Indian strikes on terror targets as 'act of war', vows to respond
False claims debunked
India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check team issued a public clarification to counter these claims.
A PIB fact check has clarified that the specific video used by several pro-Pakistan handles, falsely claiming that the Pakistan Air Force had targeted Srinagar Airbase is old, and not related to the incident.
The video is said to be from sectarian clashes that took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in 2024.
The images and videos used to bolster similar false claims were also identified as unrelated or older footage.
False claims by national media
Despite the PIB’s efforts and independent fact-checkers debunking the false claims, several mainstream Pakistani media outlets continued to amplify the misinformation.
This has raised concerns among observers about the role of Pakistani national media in escalating tensions and fuelling cross-border hostilities.
The persistence of false narratives, even after official clarifications, highlights the challenge of tackling coordinated disinformation campaigns in real-time, especially during high-stakes military operations like Operation Sindoor.
Also Read: LIVE: Govt briefing on Operation Sindoor begins
Call for media responsibility
Media analysts and security experts are calling for greater responsibility from both mainstream media and social media platforms to curb the spread of fake news.
Public awareness campaigns, stronger fact-checking mechanisms, and swift official communication are seen as critical tools in countering such surges of misinformation.
As tensions remain high, both India and Pakistan’s information ecosystems will likely remain under close scrutiny in the coming days.
