Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has come under sharp criticism after he failed to provide credible evidence to back claims that Pakistani forces shot down five Indian fighter jets in response to Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
In a CNN interview following the strikes, Asif bizarrely cited social media posts as the source for his claims, saying, “It’s all over social media, on Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell into Kashmir. And it’s all over Indian media today and they have admitted.” The anchor sharply responded, “I’m sorry we didn’t ask you here to talk about social media content,” highlighting the minister’s lack of concrete proof.
When pressed further about how the jets were allegedly shot down and what equipment was used, Asif offered no operational details. Instead, he deflected by describing Pakistan’s use of Chinese-manufactured jets, stating, “We have Chinese planes, JF-17 and JF-10… assembled in Pakistan.” However, he provided no specifics on an actual military engagement, let alone evidence of Indian aircraft losses.
This unverified claim follows another viral controversy in April, where Khawaja Asif admitted in a Sky News interview that Pakistan had funded and supported terror groups as part of U.S.-led conflicts for decades. “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States… That was a mistake, and we suffered for that,” Asif acknowledged—an admission that has resurfaced in light of recent escalations.
India’s Operation Sindoor, launched early Wednesday morning, targeted nine terror facilities linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Indian forces emphasized that the operation was conducted with precision to avoid civilian casualties. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed the successful neutralization of all nine sites.
In contrast, Pakistan’s response has focused more on media manipulation than military counteraction. Following Asif’s statements, Pakistan’s social media erupted with doctored images and false narratives, including a viral photo falsely claiming a Rafale jet had been shot down near Bahawalpur. India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the image, revealing it was from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab, entirely unrelated to current operations.
Further adding to the misinformation, Pakistani Minister Attaullah Tarar shared a fake video claiming the Indian Army raised a white flag at Chora Post. The video was quickly exposed as fabricated, yet Tarar’s endorsement lent government legitimacy to the false narrative.
As Pakistan’s leadership scrambles to craft a counter-narrative, its reliance on social media propaganda and unverified claims has further undermined its credibility on the international stage—especially in the face of India’s strategic and verifiable military response to terrorism.