In the aftermath of India’s precision military offensive under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has launched an aggressive and coordinated disinformation blitz, flooding social media and digital platforms with fabricated stories, manipulated visuals, and outright lies. This calculated move seeks to hijack the narrative, obscure the operational success of the Indian Armed Forces, and project a false image of Pakistani retaliation.
What began as a focused and decisive operation by Indian forces has now spiraled into an online war of perception. Pro-Pakistan social media handles — supported by state-linked influencers and even senior government officials — have turned to digital theatrics, pushing false narratives in a desperate attempt to save face both at home and abroad.
A Propaganda Playbook in Full Swing
From photoshopped images to misleading captions, the disinformation campaign has adopted a tried-and-tested approach. One widely circulated image claimed that a Rafale jet was shot down near Bahawalpur. In reality, PIB Fact Check swiftly debunked the claim, identifying the image as one from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab entirely unrelated to the current conflict.
In another glaring example, a doctored video claimed that Indian soldiers raised a white flag at Chora Post — a baseless allegation amplified by none other than Pakistan’s own Minister Attaullah Tarar. Despite zero credible evidence, Tarar’s endorsement gave the false narrative a dangerous official tone, further fueling misinformation across platforms.
Another old image this time of a MiG-29 crash in Barmer, Rajasthan, from September 2024 was shared by pro-Pakistan handles, misleading viewers into believing recent IAF losses occurred under Operation Sindoor.
Official Voices Join the Misinformation Meltdown
Adding to the chaos, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif falsely claimed that Indian soldiers had been captured during recent skirmishes. The statement was later debunked and retracted with no evidence supporting the existence of Indian POWs. Such baseless remarks, especially from high-ranking officials, underscore the lengths to which Pakistan’s propaganda apparatus is willing to go.
A Strategic Smokescreen
Experts believe this orchestrated disinformation offensive is aimed at neutralizing the psychological edge gained by India through the success of Operation Sindoor. By recycling outdated images, amplifying fictitious battlefield victories, and manipulating videos, Pakistan is attempting to build a virtual counter-narrative one that exists only in hashtags and headlines, not in the actual theatre of conflict.
The strategy is simple: flood the digital space with enough half-truths and outright lies to create confusion and challenge India’s credibility on the global stage.
India Responds with Facts
India, meanwhile, continues to counter the onslaught with facts, transparency, and real-time debunking through agencies like PIB Fact Check. The Indian Armed Forces have maintained operational silence where necessary but have not hesitated to correct falsehoods when national morale and security are at stake.
As the information war unfolds parallel to events on the ground, one thing remains clear: Operation Sindoor was a success and Pakistan’s panic-driven propaganda is proof.(PR)