As missiles flew and tensions soared between India and Pakistan on the night of May 8-9, another battle was brewing—this time, in the digital world, flooded with fake news and viral misinformation.Even as official updates continued to emerge from Jammu & Kashmir, the Line of Control (LoC), and areas in Punjab, Jammu, and Rajasthan affected by Pakistan’s shelling and missile attacks, a parallel stream of misinformation began circulating widely online.Catch India-Pakistan LIVE Updates
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.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADOn Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Lt Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh addressed several of these false claims during a press briefing, aiming to clear the air. The government’s fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check, also flagged and busted several viral posts spreading false or exaggerated information.More from Explainers
From attacks on dam to mosques: The Pakistani claims debunked by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
Who are Sofiya Qureshi and Vyomika Singh, Indian officers who led Operation Sindoor briefing?Authorities have urged people to stay informed through official sources only, including government notices, verified helpline numbers, and confirmed relief updates. Citizens have also been advised against forwarding unverified content, especially sensitive details like troop movements, as the spread of misinformation continues online.In this article, we break down some of the most viral false claims that have been fact-checked by the government and explain what’s really going on.1. Fact Check: Did Pakistan destroy S-400 defence system, BrahMos base?During a press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh firmly refuted Pakistan’s claims about destroying key Indian military assets — including the S-400 air defence system at Adampur, the BrahMos base in Nagrota, and airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa.Calling them false narratives, Singh said these were part of a broader misinformation campaign being peddled by Pakistan online. PIB also fact-checked a supposed video showing an attack on the Nagrota base. However, it was posted on Instagram in October 2024.Editor’s Picks1Neutralising Pak missiles and air defence system: How India is stopping a retaliatory attack2Operation Sindoor vs Bunyan un Marsoos: India targets terror and military hubs, Pakistan fires at civiliansSTORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADShe also denied Pakistan’s claims of having inflicted major damage on Indian military installations, including the Chandigarh Forward Ammunition Depot and RT gun positions at Dehrangyari.2. Fact Check: Claims on India’s electricity grid being 70% dysfunctionalA series of viral posts on social media claimed that Pakistan had launched a cyber attack that disabled 70 per cent of India’s electricity grid.However, PIB Fact Check has debunked this claim, confirming that no such attack took place and the claim is entirely fake.Rumours about other critical infrastructure, including cyber systems, being compromised are also completely untrue.3. Fact Check: Have Indian missiles hit Afghanistan?No, they haven’t.During a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri denied claims that Indian missiles had targeted Afghanistan or its people.“I only want to point out that Afghan people don’t need to be reminded about which country it is that has, on multiple occasions in just the last one and a half years, targeted civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in Afghanistan,” Misri said.Inayatullah Khawarizmi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence, also strongly rejected Pakistan’s claim about India’s missile attack on Afghan territory.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD4. Fact Check: Claims on India targeting Nankana Sahib gurdwara, Shri Amritsar SahibA social media video, featuring Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu was circulating online, claiming that India has carried out a drone attack on Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. However, the claim is false.PIB’s Fact Check unit warned that such content is created to spread communal hatred and urged users to be cautious and not forward such videos.Misri also rejected similar claims by Pakistani officials that India had launched missile attacks on Shri Amritsar Sahib, calling them completely untrue.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD5. Fact Check: Are services on the Mumbai-Delhi air route affected?No, they are not.A viral news report claimed that flight services on the busy Mumbai-Delhi air corridor had been suspended amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, and airlines were asked to reroute flights till May 14.However, this claim has been debunked.The Airports Authority of India clarified that there is no closure of the Mumbai-Delhi route. The temporary suspension of 25 Air Traffic Service (ATS) segments within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions has been done purely for operational reasons, not due to any geopolitical tensions.6. Fact Check: Was a female Indian Air Force Pilot captured in Pakistan?Various social media handles claimed that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan after she tried to jump from the jet.However, the news is absolutely fake, as per PIB.7. Fact Check: Claims of Indian soldiers crying and abandoning their postsA video has been doing the rounds on social media showing Indian soldiers crying and abandoning their posts as the India-Pakistan tensions rise. But the video is absolutely fake.The truth is that the video is old footage posted on Instagram on April 27, and is not related to the Indian Army.The video actually is from a private defence coaching institute, where students reportedly became emotional with joy upon receiving news of their successful recruitment into the Indian Army.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD8. Fact Check: Claims for Bhatinda airfield being destroyedA Pakistani news handle wrote a post on X claiming that Punjab’s Bhatinda Airfield has been destroyed. However, the airfield is fully operational, and there is no damage reported.9. Fact Check: Claims of blasts at Jaipur airportA video was going viral online claiming that explosions were heard at Rajasthan’s Jaipur Airport on Friday.However, Jaipur’s District Collector & Magistrate office clarified that no such incident took place and the video is completely misleading.10. Fact Check: Was an Indian post destroyed by Pakistan?Videos on various social media handles falsely claimed that an Indian post had been destroyed.However, PIB says the video is not related to any activity relating to Operation Sindoor and was in fact posted on YouTube on November 15, 2020.11. Fact Check: Claims of 10 explosions heard around Srinagar airportThe PIB handle has fact-checked another report from a news agency that claimed that 10 explosions were heard near Srinagar airport in Jammu and Kashmir.However, the news is false.12. Fact Check: Did a Mig-29 jet crash in Barmer?Following Operation Sindoor, an image showing a crashed MiG-29 fighter jet in Barmer is being re-circulated by various social media handles in various forms.However, the PIB fact-check unit flagged the image as old and clarified that the image is from an earlier incident involving the IAF aircraft that crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan, in September 2024. It is not related to the current scenario.TagsIndiaIndia-Pakistan TensionPakistanEnd of Article
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Fact-check: No, Pakistan didn’t capture woman IAF pilot or destroy S-400 defence system
