The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has issued a series of clarifications debunking numerous false and misleading claims circulating on social media amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
One of the most widely circulated fake claims alleged that an Indian female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, had been captured by Pakistan. The PIB categorically dismissed the claim, stating, “Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE.”
Another piece of misinformation falsely suggested that Indian soldiers were abandoning their posts in fear. The video in question, which shows young men crying, was confirmed to be from a private defence coaching institute, where students became emotional after being selected for recruitment into the Indian Army.
PIB also countered several geographically targeted fake news reports, including:
- Srinagar Airport Explosions: A report from a fake source impersonating Al Jazeera English claimed that ten explosions had occurred near Srinagar Airport. The PIB confirmed this claim to be false.
- Jaipur Airport Blasts: Another rumour of explosions at Jaipur Airport was debunked, with PIB citing the clarification from the District Collector of Jaipur.
- Delhi-Mumbai Flight Disruptions: Claims of a shutdown of air travel between Delhi and Mumbai were labeled misleading. PIB clarified that only certain Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes had been temporarily modified for operational reasons, not due to any conflict-related issues.
Further, a fabricated video claimed that an Indian military post was destroyed during ongoing operations. PIB confirmed the footage was from a 2020 YouTube video and unrelated to any current events.
In another attempt to sow discord, a fake video alleged that India had carried out a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. “This claim is completely fake and intended to incite communal tension,” PIB warned, urging citizens not to share such harmful content.
Additionally, PIB dismissed claims of a massive cyberattack by Pakistan that allegedly crippled 70% of India’s electricity grid, calling the report “completely baseless.”
The PIB reiterated its call to the public to rely only on verified and official sources for information and to refrain from spreading or reacting to sensational or unverified social media content.
“Be cautious. Don’t forward false information. Stay alert, stay informed,” the agency advised.