Key Points
- Pakistan launched a massive disinformation campaign during the 100-hour conflict with India following Operation Sindoor.
- Seven major false claims were spread by Pakistan, including fabricated attacks on Indian S-400 systems, BrahMos bases, and multiple airbases.
- Pakistan absurdly claimed India attacked its own cities and that Indian missiles struck Afghanistan.
- India systematically debunked these falsehoods through the PIB Fact Check unit, providing visual evidence and regular press briefings.
- The May 10 ceasefire has largely held as of May 11 morning, despite Pakistan’s violation within three hours of the agreement.
- Both nations’ military officials are scheduled to hold follow-up talks on May 12 to address ongoing tensions.
New Delhi: The 100-hour military confrontation between India and Pakistan that followed India’s Operation Sindoor was fought not just with missiles and drones but also with an aggressive information war. As tensions escalated, Pakistan flooded media channels and social platforms with false claims about military victories, fabricated attacks, and outright lies designed to confuse international observers and sow panic among Indian citizens.
India’s response was swift and methodical, with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit leading efforts to counter this disinformation campaign with evidence-based rebuttals. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence conducted regular press briefings, providing verified information and systematically dismantling Pakistan’s false narratives.
The S-400 and BrahMos Fabrications
Among Pakistan’s most audacious claims was that its JF-17 fighter jets had destroyed India’s sophisticated S-400 air defense system stationed in Adampur, Punjab. This fabrication was initially broadcast by Pakistan’s state-run media PTV and subsequently amplified by China’s Xinhua news agency via Global Times.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army categorically refuted this claim during a Defense Ministry press briefing on May 10, stating: “Pakistan claimed that it damaged our S400 and BrahMos missile base with its JF-17, which is completely wrong.” The PIB Fact Check unit also issued a statement on social media platforms, labeling these reports as “FAKE” and “baseless.”
Similarly, Pakistan’s claim of destroying a BrahMos missile storage site in the “general area Beas” as part of its so-called “Bunyan-un-Marsoos” operation was thoroughly debunked. The MEA presented time-stamped visual evidence showing that all BrahMos facilities remained intact and operational.
The “Deranged Fantasy” of Self-Attacks
Perhaps the most bizarre claim in Pakistan’s disinformation arsenal was the allegation that Indian armed forces were attacking their own cities, including Amritsar, to frame Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed this absurdity head-on during a May 9 press briefing, calling it a “deranged fantasy that only the Pakistanis can come up with.”
“Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that is targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan,” Misri stated, adding that such tactics were consistent with Pakistan’s historical pattern of deception.
Fabricated Airbase Damage Claims
Pakistan’s state media outlets widely reported strikes on multiple Indian airfields, including Adampur, Sirsa, Pathankot, Bhuj, Bathinda, Udhampur, and Srinagar. The MEA systematically dismantled these claims by presenting current photographs and video evidence showing these bases fully operational.
“It also ran a misinformation campaign that our airfields in Sirsa, Jammu, Pathankot, Bhatinda, Nalia and Bhuj were damaged, and its misinformation is also completely wrong,” Colonel Qureshi confirmed during the May 10 briefing. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh further reinforced this by showing current images from AFS Sirsa and Suratgarh, visually proving that neither airbase had sustained damage.
While acknowledging that some bases had been targeted by Pakistani missiles, Indian officials clarified that air defense systems had successfully neutralized most threats, resulting in minimal damage to equipment and no casualties among personnel.
Religious Sites and International Boundaries
Pakistan attempted to inflame religious tensions by claiming India had deliberately targeted mosques in Bahawalpur and Muridke during Operation Sindoor. These allegations were amplified by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who accused India of attacking religious sites with drones and missiles.
Wing Commander Singh firmly rejected these accusations: “Pakistan has been spreading fabricated allegations that Indian Armed Forces have targeted mosques. Let us make this very clear that India is secular nation, and the Indian Armed Forces are a reflection of our constitutional values. We hold every place of worship of all faiths in the highest regard.”
In another outlandish claim, Pakistan alleged that Indian missiles had struck Afghan territory. This fabrication was immediately refuted not only by India but also by Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, which labeled Pakistan’s assertions as “false” and “unfounded,” confirming that “Afghanistan is safe and secure” and “no such incident has taken place.”
Foreign Secretary Misri dismissed this as a “completely ludicrous claim,” reminding observers of Pakistan’s own history of violating Afghan sovereignty.
The Ceasefire and Current Situation
Despite the intense disinformation campaign, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 evening, which took effect at 5 pm. While Pakistan violated the agreement within three hours, the situation has remained relatively calm as of May 11 morning.
The Directors General of Military Operations from both countries are scheduled to hold follow-up talks on May 12 to address ongoing issues and strengthen the ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, India’s PIB Fact Check unit continues to monitor and debunk any new misinformation attempts.
As this conflict demonstrates, modern warfare extends beyond conventional military engagements to include sophisticated information operations. India’s systematic, evidence-based approach to countering Pakistan’s disinformation proved effective in maintaining factual clarity during a period of heightened tensions and uncertainty.
