New Delhi– India’s Operation Sindoor delivered a decisive military blow to Pakistan, dismantling terror infrastructure and exposing its political leadership on the world stage. But as its battlefield losses mounted, Pakistan pivoted to digital misinformation, launching what experts describe as a coordinated “information war” to falsely portray India as the aggressor and itself as the victor.
Facing military setbacks, including the destruction of terrorist havens and targeted strikes on Pakistani air bases, Islamabad turned to propaganda to regain footing. According to documentation from an X (formerly Twitter) user, Pakistan began spreading disinformation across social and traditional media platforms, supported by allies allegedly including Turkiye and China.
Pakistan’s military information wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), is accused of leading the charge. On May 8, ISPR denied attacking civilians in Amritsar, dismissing Indian claims as a “false flag.” A day later, it reversed course, openly celebrating the strike. In another incident, ISPR broadcast a selectively edited video of Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, misrepresenting her comments to suggest India had conceded to Pakistani strikes.
Over the course of several days, ISPR reportedly distributed doctored videos, miscaptioned images, and outdated footage. On May 1, Pakistan circulated what it claimed were classified Indian intelligence documents. On May 11, it posted a 2023 image as current proof of naval readiness. It also used altered footage from an Indian news outlet to claim an Indian airfield was destroyed—footage that actually showed Pakistani infrastructure being hit by Indian forces.
Pakistan’s social media operations further escalated the disinformation. Fabricated stories about the capture of Indian Wing Commander Shivangi Singh were widely shared. Some state-linked accounts even used video game footage to claim Pakistani forces had downed Indian jets. Another viral claim involved fake CNN graphics alleging Indian casualties, which the network never published.
Many of the visuals Pakistan used were later confirmed to be from unrelated incidents. A 2019 video of ceasefire signals was presented as current. Footage from a 2024 clash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was reused to suggest an attack on an Indian airbase. Doctored images from past aircraft accidents were passed off as recent battle evidence.
Despite the breadth of the campaign, Pakistan’s claims were systematically debunked by Indian authorities, media watchdogs, and fact-checkers. Eventually, even ISPR was forced to retract some statements, including those concerning the alleged capture of Indian personnel.
Pakistan did not act alone. The disinformation campaign appeared to receive support from Turkiye and China, both of which amplified Pakistan’s messages.
Turkish state media, including TRT World and Anadolu Agency, echoed ISPR’s claims—despite lacking evidence—such as the alleged destruction of Indian airbases. TRT World also featured Nasir Qadri, a Pakistani commentator, who framed India’s actions as part of a broader “settler-colonial” policy in line with Israel, invoking narratives popular among transnational Islamist groups.
Turkish social media accounts translated and redistributed ISPR content, increasing its global reach. One of TRT World’s X handles was later banned in India for spreading disinformation.
China, a longstanding Pakistani ally, also played a role. Chinese social media accounts shared manipulated videos and false claims to support Pakistan’s narrative. Militarily, Pakistan reportedly used Chinese-made missile systems such as the HQ-9 and PL-15 during the conflict, highlighting Beijing’s logistical backing.
Even Bangladesh was drawn into the digital fray. Several Bangladeshi accounts and media outlets, including Jamuna TV and Ekattor, echoed Pakistani claims, publishing content that accused Indian forces of attacking Bangladeshi civilians. These reports relied on repurposed images from unrelated conflicts.
Though Pakistan’s digital offensive aimed to reshape global perception, its campaign ultimately unraveled under scrutiny, revealing a coordinated but clumsy attempt to offset battlefield losses with falsehoods. (Source: IANS)
