Hours after India carried out Operation Sindoor, a targeted military strike on nine terror camps across the border in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, a wave of misinformation began circulating from Pakistani media and government-linked social media handles. Several false narratives were pushed, including baseless claims of retaliatory strikes by Pakistan on Indian territory—one such claim being that a military base in Amritsar had been attacked.
The Indian government’s official fact-checking agency labeled the claim as “false.” A video that was widely shared to support the claim was also debunked, with the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check team clarifying it was old footage from a wildfire in 2024.
⚠️Pakistan Propaganda Alert!
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
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 and rely only on official… pic.twitter.com/1FdtfXUqEY
“Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar. The video being shared is from a wildfire from 2024. Avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official sources from the Government of India for accurate information,” the PIB wrote in a post on X.
In another instance, the fact-checking body flagged a fake advisory circulating online. The fabricated message, attributed to the central government, urged citizens to remain calm and stock up on essentials like medicines and non-perishable food due to an allegedly escalating situation at the India-Pakistan border. The advisory mimicked standard civil defence alerts but was confirmed to be entirely fake.
“An image of an advisory is being shared online, claiming that the government has urged individuals to take precautionary measures and keep essential items ready at home. This claim is FAKE. The government has not issued any such advisory,” the fact-checking agency said.
Additional false claims—such as Pakistan Air Force allegedly targeting the Srinagar Airbase and destroying an Indian Army Brigade Headquarters—were also shared by prominent accounts affiliated with Pakistan’s military media wing and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). However, these claims were made without any credible evidence, visuals, or satellite imagery.
