Narrative Warfare and the Weaponisation of Falsehoods

By Aarshi Baid

Introduction

Wars were once fought on battlefields with guns and missiles. In today’s evolving geopolitical landscape, however, the nature of warfare has shifted. Nations now engage in narrative warfare, where disinformation, fake news, and emotionally charged propaganda are deployed to shape public perception, divert global attention, and influence policy.

Among the most active players in this realm is Pakistan, which has weaponised disinformation as a strategic tool of statecraft. As falsehoods spread faster than facts—because facts require verification while lies thrive on virality—this war of narratives has intensified, particularly between India and Pakistan.

Despite clear satellite imagery and verified proof presented by Indian forces, such as the destruction of terror camps during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan continues to pedal misinformation. This article critically examines several key falsehoods promoted by Pakistan, placing them within the larger context of regional geopolitics, media manipulation, and the rising threat of information warfare.

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Unpacking Pakistan’s False Claims During and After Operation Sindoor

Claim 1: Destruction of India’s S-400 Missile System

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed that its JF-17 jets had destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system in Adampur. This claim was picked up by China’s Global Times and spread across social media. However, India’s Ministry of Defence refuted the claim, confirming the S-400 system remains fully operational.

In a bold counter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur air base and posed in front of the intact S-400 system—debunking Pakistan’s false claim with visible proof.

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Claim 2: Capture of IAF Pilot Shivangi Singh

Another widely circulated falsehood was that Pakistan had captured IAF Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, a female fighter pilot. Viral social media posts claimed she was taken into custody during Operation Sindoor.

The Indian Air Force quickly clarified that Shivangi Singh was unharmed and not involved in any such incident. No evidence was provided by Pakistan, exposing the claim as part of a broader psychological operation.

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Claim 3: Three IAF Jets Crashed in the Himalayas

Pro-Pakistani social media accounts shared images claiming three Indian jets had crashed in the Himalayas. In reality, the image used was from a 2016 MiG-27 crash in Jodhpur, taken during a training mission. Pakistan recycled this old image to fuel misinformation.

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Claim 4: Cyberattack Destroyed 70% of India’s Power Grid

Some narratives claimed that Pakistan had launched a cyberattack disabling 70% of India’s power grid. However, there was no power outage reported and no official source confirmed such an incident.

India’s critical infrastructure, especially its power grid, is safeguarded by multiple layers of cyber defences, making such claims both technically and practically implausible.

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Claim 5: Suspension of Delhi–Mumbai Flights

Reports circulated online stating that India had shut down its Delhi–Mumbai air corridor, one of the world’s busiest. In truth, the Airport Authority of India had made a routine technical adjustment, suspending 25 Air Traffic Services route segments temporarily. The main corridor remained functional and unaffected.

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Claim 6: Airstrike on Srinagar Air Base

Pro-Pakistan accounts circulated a video claiming there were ten explosions in Srinagar. The video was old and unrelated—originating from a past incident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Similarly, false claims were made about a drone strike at Jaipur Airport, which were promptly refuted by Jaipur District Magistrate Jitendra Kumar Soni. No incident occurred.

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Pakistan’s ‘Victory Photo’ Exposed: Chinese Military Drill Passed Off as Pakistani

In one of the most embarrassing moments of the disinformation campaign, Pakistan’s Army Chief gifted PM Shehbaz Sharif a framed photo, supposedly of a successful military operation against India. However, it was later revealed to be a 2019 image of a Chinese military drill, featuring Chinese rocket launchers.

This exposed the extent of Pakistan’s media manipulation at even the highest levels of government.

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Claim: Russia–Pakistan \$2.6B Mega Pact

Reports emerged in Pakistani media claiming that Russia had signed a mega steel deal with Pakistan, a story attributed to Nikkei Asia. However, Nikkei had ceased reporting from Russia in 2022, and the journalist cited—Adnan Amir, whose account is withheld in India—failed to provide credible evidence.

Russian sources confirmed no such deal had been signed, confirming this too was an attempt to undermine Indo-Russian relations.

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India’s Response: Team Modi and Narrative Counter-Strategy

Recognizing the potency of narrative warfare, India launched its own global counter-narrative strategy under “Team India”, led by senior diplomats and politicians including Shashi Tharoor.

This team’s goal is to present verified facts, images, and testimony to counter disinformation in global capitals and media platforms. Instead of resorting to loud rebuttals, India is leveraging credibility, transparency, and digital diplomacy to restore its image.

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Conclusion

In the modern era, disinformation is a weapon—and Pakistan has proven adept at using it. From fake military victories to imaginary pilot captures, their narrative warfare undermines truth and stability.

India’s counter-narrative approach must remain proactive, not reactive—combining strategic communication, digital verification, and international engagement. The fight is not just for headlines—it is a battle for truth, trust, and global credibility.

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