As missiles flew and tensions soared between India and Pakistan, a parallel war of fake news broke out online. PIB fact-checkers flagged eight major falsehoods, exposing a coordinated Pakistani campaign to mislead the public.
New Delhi | May 9, 2025 –
While the Indian armed forces successfully thwarted Pakistan’s large-scale drone and missile attack on Thursday night, a digital front was simultaneously activated. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), a wave of misinformation and doctored videos emerged on social media—primarily from Pakistani handles—attempting to distort the narrative of ongoing events.
Between 10:00 pm on May 8 and 6:30 am on May 9, PIB’s Fact Check Unit busted at least eight major fake claims being circulated with alarming speed.
Also Read: 🇵🇰 Rattled PCB Shifts Pakistan Super League to UAE Amid India-Pakistan Military Tensions
🕵️♂️ Top 8 False Claims Exposed by PIB:
1. Drone Strike in Jalandhar
📹 A video claimed to show a drone attack in Punjab.
✅ Reality: It was a farm fire, recorded before any aerial activity began. Verified by Jalandhar DC.
Drone Attack in Jalandhar⁉️
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
This drone strike video from #Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media#PIBFactCheck
* This is an unrelated video of a farm fire. The video has the time 7:39 PM, while the drone attack began later.
* Do not share this video. See the… pic.twitter.com/IRBjq2KOTQ
2. Indian Army Post Destroyed
Also Read: Russian & Israeli Tech Repel Pakistan’s Missile Assault, Launch Precision Counterstrikes
📹 A video claimed Pakistan destroyed a post of the “20 Raj Battalion.”
✅ Reality: No such battalion exists. The footage was staged.
🚨 Staged Video Alert 🚨
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
Fake video is being circulated by Pakistani handles alleging that an Indian Post was destroyed by the #Pakistani Army
🔍 #PIBFactCheck:
✅ The claim is completely false, and the video is staged
❌ There is no unit called “20 Raj Battalion" in the… pic.twitter.com/959rc9OrTH
3. Missile Strike on India
📹 Viral clip showed a massive explosion said to be a missile hit.
✅ Reality: It was 2020 Beirut explosion footage, reused deceptively.
An #old video is being shared on #SocialMedia with the claim that #Pakistan has launched a missile attack on India in retaliation. #PIBFactCheck
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
✅ The video being shared is of the explosive attack that took place in Beirut, Lebanon in the year 2020
✅ Don't fall for the… pic.twitter.com/G8nIIdn6FG
4. Suicide Attack in Rajouri
📹 Claimed a fidayeen attack on an Army brigade.
✅ Reality: Completely fabricated, no such attack occurred.
🚨 #Fake_news is circulating about a "fidayeen" attack on an Army brigade in #Rajouri, #Jammu and #Kashmir.#PIBFactCheck:
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
▶️ No such #fidayeen or suicide attack has occurred on any army cantt.
⚠️ Do not fall for these false claims intended to #mislead and cause confusion. pic.twitter.com/x8Az5tigUO
5. Letter from ‘Army Chief’
📜 A letter attributed to Gen. VK Narayan warned of impending war.
✅ Reality: No such person exists in the Indian Army hierarchy.
A letter is being shared on Social Media claiming that Chief of the Army Staff Gen V.K. Narayan has sent a confidential letter regarding military preparedness to the Army officer of Northern Command. #PIBFactCheck
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
✅ This letter is completely Fake.
✅ Gen. V.K. Narayan is… pic.twitter.com/OvDxaql3kz
6. Ambala Airbase Targeted Amritsar
📹 Suggested Indian forces attacked Amritsar from Ambala.
✅ Reality: Categorically denied by the Ministry of Defence.
A social media post falsely claims that the Indian military used Ambala Airbase to attack #Amritsar and its own citizens.
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
🔍 #PIBFactCheck:
✅ This claim is completely baseless and part of a concerted misinformation campaign.
Read more about #Pakistan attack on Amritsar👇… pic.twitter.com/C2NnXPjkgF
7. Airport Entry Banned Across India
📢 Posts claimed airport access had been shut nationwide.
✅ Reality: False. No blanket entry ban was imposed.
8. Hazira Port Under Attack
📹 Claimed Pakistani strike on Gujarat’s Hazira Port.
✅ Reality: Old video from a 2021 oil tanker fire, unrelated to current events.
This video is widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in #Gujarat has been attacked #PIBFactCheck
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025
* This is an unrelated video confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion. The video is dated July 7, 2021.
* Do not share this video. Refer the link… pic.twitter.com/nlQwgVAj3k
🚨 Govt Advisory: Stop Sharing Unverified Content
The government has urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid amplifying unverified videos or posts, especially during heightened tensions. “Such disinformation not only spreads panic but also endangers national security,” said an official source.
The Ministry of Defence has reiterated that all official updates will be shared through government channels and urged the public to rely on verified sources only.
🏷️ Tags:
Pakistan propaganda, PIB fact check, Operation Sindoor, India-Pakistan tensions, fake news India, social media misinformation, PIB busts fake videos, OperationSindoor,