India’s Operation Sindoor Exposes Pakistan’s Disinformation Warfare
India’s decisive military operation, Operation Sindoor, struck a significant blow against terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan, exposing the nation’s political leadership on the global stage. As Pakistan faced mounting military setbacks, including the destruction of terrorist havens and targeted strikes on its air bases, it resorted to a sophisticated digital misinformation campaign, waging an "information war" to falsely portray India as the aggressor and itself as the victor. This coordinated effort involved the dissemination of fabricated stories, doctored images, and manipulated videos across social and traditional media platforms, with alleged support from allies including Turkey and China.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s military information wing, spearheaded this disinformation campaign. ISPR initially denied attacking civilians in Amritsar, dismissing Indian claims as a "false flag" operation. However, it later reversed its stance, openly celebrating the very strike it had previously denied. In another instance, ISPR broadcast a selectively edited video of Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, distorting her comments to falsely suggest that India had conceded to Pakistani strikes. This pattern of contradictory statements and manipulated media became a hallmark of Pakistan’s disinformation strategy.
The ISPR’s campaign extended to disseminating doctored videos, miscaptioned images, and outdated footage to create a false narrative. They circulated what they claimed were classified Indian intelligence documents, presented a 2023 image as current proof of naval readiness, and used altered footage from an Indian news outlet – footage that actually depicted Pakistani infrastructure being hit by Indian forces – to falsely claim the destruction of an Indian airfield. This deliberate manipulation of visual media aimed to deceive both domestic and international audiences.
Pakistan’s social media operations played a crucial role in amplifying this disinformation. Fabricated stories regarding the capture of Indian Wing Commander Shivangi Singh were widely circulated. State-linked accounts even resorted to using video game footage to falsely claim that Pakistani forces had downed Indian jets. A particularly egregious example involved the dissemination of fake CNN graphics alleging Indian casualties, graphics that CNN never produced. This exploitation of social media’s viral nature allowed these falsehoods to rapidly spread and gain traction.
The visuals employed by Pakistan were often sourced from unrelated incidents, further highlighting the deceptive nature of the campaign. A 2019 video of ceasefire signals was presented as current footage. Footage from a 2024 clash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was repurposed to suggest an attack on an Indian airbase. Doctored images from past aircraft accidents were passed off as evidence of recent battle damage. This blatant misuse of existing media demonstrated a calculated attempt to mislead and manipulate public perception.
Despite the extensive nature of this disinformation campaign, Pakistan’s claims were systematically debunked by Indian authorities, media watchdogs, and independent fact-checkers. The sheer volume of contradictory information and demonstrably false claims ultimately undermined the credibility of Pakistan’s narrative. Even the ISPR was forced to retract some of its statements, including those related to the alleged capture of Indian personnel. This backtracking further exposed the flawed and unsustainable nature of the disinformation campaign.
Pakistan’s disinformation campaign did not operate in isolation. It received apparent support from Turkey and China, both of which amplified Pakistan’s messaging. Turkish state media outlets, including TRT World and Anadolu Agency, echoed ISPR’s unsubstantiated claims, such as the alleged destruction of Indian airbases. TRT World also featured Pakistani commentator Nasir Qadri, who framed India’s actions within a "settler-colonial" narrative, aligning it with Israel and invoking themes popular among transnational Islamist groups. This provided a platform for anti-India rhetoric and further fueled the disinformation campaign.
Turkish social media accounts translated and redistributed ISPR content, expanding its reach to a global audience. One of TRT World’s X (formerly Twitter) handles was subsequently banned in India for spreading disinformation. This direct involvement of state-linked media outlets in disseminating and amplifying false narratives underscored the coordinated nature of the campaign.
China, a long-standing ally of Pakistan, also played a role in the disinformation effort. Chinese social media accounts shared manipulated videos and false claims to bolster Pakistan’s narrative. Furthermore, reports indicated that Pakistan used Chinese-made missile systems, such as the HQ-9 and PL-15, during the conflict, highlighting Beijing’s logistical support. This military backing, combined with the spread of disinformation, demonstrated a multifaceted approach to supporting Pakistan.
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, further muddying the information landscape and contributing to the spread of false narratives.
While Pakistan’s digital offensive aimed to reshape global perception of the conflict, its campaign ultimately unraveled under scrutiny. The sheer volume of fabricated stories, manipulated images, and contradictory statements revealed a coordinated but clumsy attempt to offset battlefield losses with a barrage of falsehoods. This ultimately undermined Pakistan’s credibility on the international stage and exposed its reliance on disinformation as a tool of warfare. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of disinformation in the digital age and the importance of critical media literacy in navigating the complex information landscape.
