The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has debunked yet another fake narrative being pushed by Pakistan-based social media accounts amid rising tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor.
On Thursday, the Fact Check team labeled as “FAKE” a widely circulated video falsely claiming that Pakistan had carried out a successful strike on a military base in Amritsar, Punjab. The video, shared by a Pakistani handle named Shamil Jawani (@ShamilJawani1), claimed “numerous casualties” and used hashtags like #IndiaPakistanWar, #OperationSindoor, and #Pakistan in an attempt to amplify the falsehood.
In a post labeled “Pakistan Propaganda Alert,” the PIB clarified that the video in question was an unrelated clip from a 2024 wildfire, not a military strike. The unit cautioned the public against spreading unverified content and urged reliance on official Government of India sources for accurate information.
“Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar. #PIBFactCheck: The video being shared is from a wildfire from 2024. Avoid sharing unverified information,” the PIB said.
This latest misinformation attempt comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s precision missile strike that targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Following the operation, Pakistani social media has ramped up efforts to flood the digital space with fake images, outdated videos, and baseless claims—a strategy designed to sow confusion and shift attention from the destruction of key terror infrastructure.
Among the most glaring examples is a viral photo claiming a Rafale jet was shot down by Pakistan. That image was also debunked by PIB, which confirmed it was actually from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab, and completely unrelated to the current situation.
Pakistan’s disinformation blitz highlights its desperation to control the narrative after India’s successful counter-terror operation. By recycling old content and launching digital theatrics, Pakistan is attempting to blur the lines between reality and fiction—but fact-checking efforts are steadily unmasking the propaganda.