PIB Fact-Check Exposes Pakistan’s Misinformation On Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

Amid heightened tensions following India’s retaliatory precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistan-based elements launched a significant misinformation campaign.

Their objective was clear-  to disrupt the narrative and instil fear among the Indian masses.

Pakistan-based elements launched these attempts following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, which retaliated against the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s official fact-checking body, swiftly responded to this misinformation, successfully debunking seven instances of fake news that circulated across social media platforms.

Between late Wednesday and early Thursday, the PIB Fact-Check Unit identified and rectified misleading claims, ensuring the public had access to accurate information.

Debunking The Misinformation

One of the most widely circulated claims was a video, shared across Pakistan-based social media handles, that falsely purported to show a drone strike in Jalandhar.

However, the PIB Fact-Check Unit immediately identified it as an unrelated video of a farm fire.

The District Collector of Jalandhar confirmed the video’s timestamp, which showed it being posted at 7:39 PM.

The timing did not match that of the drone attack, which occurred much later, thus debunking the claim.

Staged Videos & Fabricated Attacks

The PIB debunked another fabricated video claiming that the Pakistani army destroyed an Indian military post, confirming that Pakistan staged the video as part of its propaganda campaign.

The video also falsely referenced a ’20 Raj Battalion’ in the Indian Army, a unit that does not exist.

The PIB revealed that an old video, falsely claiming a Pakistan missile attack on India, was actually footage from a 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.

The PIB provided clear evidence that the video had no connection to recent events and was merely another attempt to spread fear and confusion.

Exposing More False Claims

Among other fake news debunked by the PIB were claims about a ‘fidayeen’ attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.

The PIB clarified that no such attack had occurred and flagged the claims as misleading.

Pakistan-based elements entirely fabricated the purported confidential letter on military preparedness from the Chief of Army Staff, General VK Narayan.

In another false narrative, a claim emerged on social media suggesting that the Indian military had used Ambala Airbase to attack Amritsar.

The PIB immediately confirmed that this claim was baseless, emphasising that no such incident had taken place.

Lastly, false posts claiming that entry to airports across India had been banned were also debunked by the PIB, with the government confirming that no such decision had been taken.

PIB’s Role In Countering Misinformation

The PIB Fact-Check Unit’s efforts played a crucial role in maintaining public trust and countering attempts to destabilise India through misinformation.

At a time when public sentiment was highly sensitive due to the escalating military tensions, the PIB’s timely intervention ensured that the truth prevailed, helping citizens navigate the barrage of misleading information.

By swiftly identifying and debunking these false claims, the PIB not only safeguarded the truth but also helped protect national security and public peace.

Their work remains a vital tool in fighting misinformation, particularly in times of heightened geopolitical tensions.

Also Read: Pakistani Handles Spread False Claim Of Shooting Down Indian UAV After PoK Strikes