In the wake of India’s precise military offensive—Operation Sindoor—targeting nine known terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a storm of falsehoods and disinformation has erupted from across the border, largely propagated by Pakistani state-backed media and military-linked social media accounts.
Just hours after India’s surgical missile strikes—carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror massacre that claimed 26 lives—Pakistani narratives began flooding platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with sensational, but baseless, counterclaims. Among the most widespread were allegations that Pakistan had responded with missile attacks on 15 Indian targets, including a supposed direct hit on the Srinagar Air Force base and the destruction of an Indian Army Brigade Headquarters.
These claims, however, lacked any supporting proof—no satellite imagery, no verified visuals, and no independent corroboration. Indian and international fact-checkers swiftly dismantled the propaganda. For instance, a video circulated by several pro-Pakistani handles alleging a strike on Srinagar airbase was found to be outdated footage from a 2024 sectarian clash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a clear rebuttal: “The video is NOT from India. Rely only on official Government of India sources for verified updates.”
Other viral images were similarly debunked—many traced back to unrelated conflict zones or past disasters, while some were digitally manipulated to fit the narrative. Nevertheless, these falsehoods found traction, amplified by major Pakistani news channels and influencers tied to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's military.
Launched in the early hours following the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor was a calculated military action targeting terror infrastructure operated by groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—both designated terrorist organizations by India, the United Nations, and multiple global entities. The Indian Ministry of Defence clarified that the operation was "measured, precise, and deliberately non-escalatory," with no Pakistani civilian or military assets targeted—only terrorist encampments.
In parallel with the military action, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reached out to key international allies. Detailed briefings were provided to U.S. officials, including NSA Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as to counterparts in the UK, Russia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, all underscoring Pakistan’s continued sheltering of cross-border terror networks.
As India's strategic messaging remains grounded in facts and international diplomacy, Pakistan's apparent attempt to muddy the waters through coordinated misinformation exposes its desperation to deflect attention from its role in nurturing extremist elements.