The Digital Frontline of a Geopolitical Tension
As tensions between India and Pakistan surge in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor—India’s deep strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—another, quieter battle is being fought online: the war against misinformation. Social media has become a battleground of fabricated claims, recycled footage, and psychological operations, largely orchestrated to provoke panic, distort facts, and undermine public trust.
In response, the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has stepped in to counter this growing tide of disinformation. With a steady stream of clarifications and evidence-backed denials, the government aims to keep the public accurately informed and prevent unnecessary fear or unrest. Below is a detailed look at the most viral falsehoods and how they were dismantled.
1. The Phantom Jet Crashes in Kashmir
A widely shared China Daily report claimed three Indian jets had crashed in Kashmir. However, PIB Fact Check revealed that the accompanying image dated back to a 2019 incident, shared originally by Al Jazeera. There were no such crashes during current hostilities, making the report a clear attempt to stoke fear.
2. Fake Profiles, Fake Warnings
A supposed statement by NSA Ajit Doval circulated on Facebook warned of an imminent Pakistani cyberattack. PIB swiftly labeled the post fraudulent, emphasizing that Doval has no official presence on Facebook. This incident underlines how fake authority figures are being weaponized to lend false credibility to misinformation.
3. Imaginary Dogfights over PoK
Pakistani social media claimed that an Indian Sukhoi Su-30MKI was shot down over Muzaffarabad and its pilot captured. In reality, the image used was from a 2014 crash in Maharashtra, not a current military operation. PIB cross-referenced this with news archives, confirming the fabrication.
4. When Video Games Become War Footage
A viral clip showing a barrage of MLRS rocket fire was labeled as Pakistani retaliation. Fact checkers debunked the video, revealing it to be footage from a video game, circulating online for over three years. The clip was entirely unrelated to current India-Pakistan hostilities.
5. ATM Shutdown Rumors Spark Fear
A WhatsApp message claimed ATMs across India would be shut down for 2–3 days due to cyber threats. PIB Fact Check clarified that no such disruptions were planned and banking services remained fully operational. The claim was dismissed as a baseless hoax.
6. Old Explosions Recycled as New Attacks
Images of supposed blasts at the Jammu Air Force Base began to circulate widely. These, however, were found to be from the Kabul Airport explosion of August 2021. The reuse of historical tragedies to incite present-day fear underscores the manipulative intent behind such posts.
7. Gujarat Port Attack That Never Happened
Another video suggested that Hazira Port in Gujarat was attacked by Pakistan. The video was actually from a 2021 oil tanker explosion at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, entirely unrelated to India. PIB linked to credible news sources confirming the video’s origin.
8. Jalandhar Drone Hoax
A supposed drone strike in Punjab’s Jalandhar turned out to be a farm fire caught on camera. PIB noted that the timestamp preceded the drone attacks on May 8, ruling out any connection to military activity.
9. Fictional Units, Fabricated Victories
Claims of Pakistan destroying an Indian Army post and capturing soldiers were shared using a unit named “20 Raj Battalion.” PIB confirmed that no such unit exists in the Indian Army, branding the post as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign.
10. Old Explosions Misrepresented as Missile Strikes
A dramatic video claimed to show Pakistani missile attacks on India. In truth, it was footage from the 2020 Beirut explosion. Once again, reality was substituted with irrelevant past tragedies to generate panic and outrage.
11. Airport Ban Fiction
Rumors circulated that airports across India were closed to civilians. PIB rejected this as completely false, clarifying that no such travel restrictions had been implemented.
12. The Rajouri ‘Fidayeen’ Myth
Finally, viral posts alleged a suicide attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. PIB thoroughly investigated and found no evidence of such an attack, labeling it as pure disinformation aimed at agitating public sentiment.
Truth is the First Line of Defense
In a time of heightened military and political tension, truth itself becomes a national security priority. The digital misinformation war surrounding Operation Sindoor is not just about shaping narratives—it’s about influencing emotions, decisions, and perceptions at scale.
As Pakistan wages this psychological battle online, India’s best defense remains vigilant citizenship, responsible sharing, and reliance on verified information. In the fog of digital war, fact-checking becomes a civic duty, and the commitment to truth, our most potent form of resistance.
(With agency inputs)
