In the aftermath of India’s precision airstrikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a concerted disinformation campaign emerged from Pakistan. This campaign sought to distort the narrative, leveraging misinformation to counteract the strategic and psychological impact of the Indian military action.
Based on verified and publicly available information, here are the five key case studies of disinformation campaigns launched by Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, illustrating how the Pakistani information machinery tried to manipulate the global and domestic narrative.
The Rafale Jet ‘Shootdown’ Hoax
One of the most prominent false claims was that a Rafale fighter jet of the Indian Air Force was shot down by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Multiple Pakistani social media accounts, followed by local news outlets, circulated alleged visuals of the wreckage. However, fact-checks by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Indian media outlets confirmed that the visuals used were from an old MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan in 2024, having no connection to Operation Sindoor.
Lesson: Repackaging unrelated incidents is a frequent tactic to quickly produce visual “proof” for misinformation narratives.
Faked Attack on Srinagar Airbase
Several Pakistani handles circulated a video claiming that the Indian Air Force’s Srinagar Airbase had been bombed during Pakistan’s retaliation. However, geolocation and reverse-image searches by independent fact-checkers revealed that the footage was actually from a sectarian clash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and had nothing to do with any military operation on Indian soil.
Lesson: Misattribution of footage is used to instill fear, sow confusion, and imply military parity.
Ministerial Endorsement of Unverified Social Media Content
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a live TV interview, cited unverified social media posts to claim that Indian jets had been downed and significant damage had been done. This added official weight to already circulating falsehoods. The statement, however, was swiftly debunked by Indian authorities, and no independent verification from international agencies was found.
Lesson: Government figures referencing social media to assert military success risks institutionalising falsehood.
A viral video allegedly shows Pakistan shooting down an Indian fighter jet.
The viral video does not depict a real-life military incident. On close examination, the visuals appear to be taken from a video game. Several users were quick to highlight the artificial quality of the footage — particularly the unusually well-lit night-time scene and the pixelated, game-like rendering of explosions and aircraft movement. Frame-by-frame analysis further confirms that the graphics lack natural depth and realism, consistent with computer-generated imagery commonly seen in simulation games.
Conclusion: The claim that the video shows Pakistan shooting down an Indian fighter jet is fake. It is digitally created content, not actual footage from a military engagement. Viewers are advised to verify such sensational claims through trusted news sources and fact-checking platforms.
Use of AI-Generated and Deepfake Content
Another emerging trend noted in this disinformation campaign was the use of manipulated or AI-generated content such as deepfake voice messages purportedly from Indian military officials “admitting defeat.” While this was still under verification, experts flagged the increasing use of generative AI to produce realistic audio-visual material that could not be immediately debunked.
Lesson: AI is adding a new layer of sophistication to information warfare, requiring enhanced media literacy.
These case studies reflect a clear pattern of digital manipulation used as part of a broader psychological operation (PSYOP) to influence public perception and diplomatic discourse.
The Real Frontline is the Digital Battlefield. The Operation Sindoor episode reaffirms that in modern geopolitics, truth is often the first casualty, unless rigorously defended by institutions and informed citizens.
Genesis of the Disinformation Campaign
The disinformation offensive was initiated promptly after the Indian strikes. Pakistani state media and affiliated social media accounts disseminated claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets, including a Rafale, and inflicting significant damage on Indian military installations such as the Srinagar Airbase. These assertions were accompanied by images and videos purporting to substantiate the claims. However, fact-checking agencies, including India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB), debunked these narratives, identifying the visuals as either outdated or unrelated to the current events.
Mechanisms and Channels of Misinformation
The dissemination of false information was multifaceted:
Recycled Media: Images from previous incidents, such as a MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan in 2024, were repurposed to depict alleged downed Indian aircraft.
Fabricated Videos: Footage from unrelated events, including sectarian clashes in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was misrepresented as evidence of attacks on Indian military targets.
Official Endorsements: Statements from Pakistani officials, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, amplified unverified claims, lending them an air of credibility despite lacking substantiation.
Countermeasures and Fact-Checking Efforts
In response to the misinformation, Indian authorities and independent fact-checkers undertook efforts to clarify the situation:
PIB Fact-Checks: The PIB issued statements refuting the false claims, providing context and evidence to debunk the circulated misinformation.
International Media Scrutiny: Global news outlets analyzed the disinformation tactics employed, highlighting the strategic use of propaganda in the digital age.
Implications and the Need for Vigilance
The rapid spread of disinformation following Operation Sindoor underscores the evolving nature of modern conflict, where information warfare plays a pivotal role. Such campaigns aim not only to mislead domestic and international audiences but also to undermine the credibility of adversaries.
In this context, the importance of media literacy and critical consumption of information becomes paramount. Audiences must exercise discernment, relying on verified sources and cross-referencing information to navigate the complex media landscape.
As information continues to be a battleground, fostering a culture of skepticism and verification is essential to counteract the pernicious effects of disinformation.
This editorial is based on verified reports and fact-checks from reputable sources, including India Today, and The Times of India.
