Fri May 09 08:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan’s Falsehoods Following “Operation Sindhu” Undermine Credibility

**ISLAMABAD, May 8, 2025** – Following India’s “Operation Sindhu,” which targeted nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK), the Pakistani government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has engaged in a widespread campaign of disinformation, echoing similar tactics used after previous conflicts with India. Multiple claims made by Sharif and his ministers have been debunked by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), the Press Information Bureau (PIB), and other fact-checking agencies.

Key false claims include:

* **Downing of Indian jets:** Sharif claimed the Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales, and jammed their communication systems. India’s Ministry of Defence countered that all its pilots were safe and that the operation utilized stand-off weapons, eliminating the need for Pakistani airspace entry. Images purportedly showing downed Indian aircraft were revealed by PIB to be from a 2024 MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan.

* **Capture of Indian soldiers:** Defence Minister Khawaja Asif initially claimed three Indian soldiers were captured, a statement he later retracted. India confirmed no ground troops were involved in Operation Sindhu.

* **Indian surrender:** Information Minister Attaullah Tarar promoted a video falsely claiming Indian soldiers surrendered at the Chor Post on the Line of Control (LOC). PIB confirmed this video was unrelated and outdated.

* **Destruction of Indian bases:** Pakistani social media and state-controlled media falsely claimed the destruction of Srinagar Airbase and an Indian brigade headquarters in Rajouri. These claims were also debunked by the PIB.

* **Targeting of civilian sites:** Sharif and military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused India of targeting civilian areas, mosques, and the Neelam-Jhelum hydroelectric project, resulting in 26 civilian deaths. India maintained that only terrorist infrastructure was targeted. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies corroborated damage to terrorist bases in Bahawalpur and Muridke, but no credible evidence supported damage to civilian areas.

This pattern of disinformation is not new for Pakistan. The country has historically presented defeats in the 1948, 1965, and 1971 wars as victories to bolster domestic morale and project an image of strength internationally. However, independent analyses contradict these narratives.

Pakistan’s current economic crisis, exacerbated by Operation Sindhu and India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, further undermines the government’s credibility. The repeated dissemination of demonstrably false information erodes public trust and raises serious questions about Pakistan’s long-term stability. The question remains: how long can Pakistan sustain its existence on a foundation of falsehoods?

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