Tensions between India and Pakistan intensified on the night of Friday and early Saturday, with reports streaming in from Jammu & Kashmir, the Line of Control, Rajasthan, and various regions in north India on heavy Pakistani shelling.
Meanwhile, social media has seen a surge of misinformation and fabricated content amid the escalating tension between the neighboring countries, following India's Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The Press Information Bureau's fact-checking team has been actively countering false narratives circulating on various platforms, posting clarifications on X.
Here's a look at the spate of fake news busted by PIB Fact Check, while appealing to the public to only believe in information from government agencies.
Udhampur Air Base
PIB Fact Check posted that a video aired by 'AIK News' on live TV claimed that Pakistan had destroyed the Udhampur Air Base. But the video is video of a fire incident at a chemical factory in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. It's unrelated to the current India–Pakistan situation.
🚨 Udhampur Air Base Destroyed? ❌
A video aired by 'AIK News' on live TV claimed that Pakistan had destroyed the Udhampur Air Base.#PIBFactCheck
✅ This video shows a fire incident at a chemical factory in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
✅ It's unrelated to the current… pic.twitter.com/g8g6sCtfpWNagrota Air Base
An old and digitally altered video is being falsely circulated as footage of a Pakistani attack on the Nagrota Air Base, PIB Fact Check posted.
Heard of attack on Nagrota Air Base❓BEWARE‼️
An old and digitally altered video is being falsely circulated as footage of a Pakistani attack on the Nagrota Air Base.#PIBFactCheck
✅ This video was originally posted on Instagram in October 2024.
🔗 Watch:… pic.twitter.com/eO0o5njfRiNo Missile Attack At Delhi Airport
An old video is being falsely shared as footage of a missile strike on New Delhi Airport. This video shows a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen, from August 2024. It has no connection to the current India–Pakistan situation, PIB Fact Check said.
🚨 Missile Attack on Delhi Airport?
An old video is being falsely shared as footage of a missile strike on New Delhi Airport.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This video shows a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen, from August 2024.
✅ It has no connection to the current India–Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/pFqfDO50nmViral Claim About Bhatinda Airfield
PIB fact Check has posted that viral posts on social media are being artificially spread, claiming that the Bathinda Airfield has been destroyed . These posts are false and the Bathinda Airfield is fully operational and there is no damage whatsoever.
🚨 VIRAL CLAIM ABOUT BATHINDA ON SOCIAL MEDIA! 🚨
Posts are being artificially spread, claiming that the Bhatinda Airfield has been DESTROYED! #PIBFactCheck
❌ FAKE ALERT!
✅ The Bathinda Airfield is FULLY OPERATIONAL and there is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER.
Don't fall for… pic.twitter.com/ihjkvyRbtHAdvisory On Location Services
A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately. PIB Fact Check team has effectively reported that this claim is fake and no such advisory has been issued by the Government of India.
A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately.#PIBFactCheck
- This claim is FAKE
- No such advisory has been issued by the GoI pic.twitter.com/8GmYpKXTkJNo Indian Pilot Ejected Over PoK
Posts on social media claim that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. PIB Fact Check has clarified that this claim is fake
🚨 Indian Pilot Ejected Over PoK? Here's the Truth!
Posts on social media claim that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is FAKE.
📢 Don't fall for misinformation. Always verify before sharing.… pic.twitter.com/u12T92qhr2Air Force Pilot Has Not Been Captured
PIB Fact Check as clarified that no Indian female Air force pilot has been captured as opposed to Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.
Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨
Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… pic.twitter.com/V8zovpSRYkIAF Jets Crash In Himalayas
Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region. But, PIB Fact Check has clarified that this claim is fake and the image being circulated is old, dating back to 2016.
🚨Did 3 IAF Jets Crash in Himalayas? 🚨
Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region.#PIBFactcheck
- This claim is #FAKE
- The image being circulated is old, dating back to… pic.twitter.com/WZ9cBLWXWIPropaganda Alert
Social Media post falsely claims that an Indian post has been destroyed. PIB Fact Check has alerted that the claim is fake. This video is old and not related to any activity post Operation Sindoor. The video was originally uploaded on YouTube on 15 Nov 2020.
🚨 Propaganda Alert!🚨
Social Media post falsely claims that an Indian post has been destroyed. #PIBFactCheck
❌ The claim is #Fake
✅This video is #old and NOT related to any activity post #OperationSindoor
✅The video was originally uploaded on YouTube on 15 Nov 2020
🔗… pic.twitter.com/w4oSpwM32AJaipur Airport Is Safe
Claims are circulating that explosions were heard at Jaipur Airport. But PIB Fact Check has clarified that these claims are fake. The clarification has also been issued by the District Collector & Magistrate, Jaipur.
🚨 Jaipur Airport is Safe 🚨
Claims are circulating that explosions were heard at #Jaipur Airport.#PIBFactCheck
💠 These claims are FAKE
💠 Here is the clarification from the District Collector & Magistrate, Jaipur
🔗https://t.co/qqbbFgGZ7x pic.twitter.com/rijeLipwhYExplosions At Srinagar Airport
Aljazeera English has claimed that there have been about 10 explosions around Srinagar airport in J&K and PIB Fact Check has said that this claim is fake and urged the public to rely only on official sources for authentic information.
.@AJEnglish has claimed that there have been about 10 explosions around #Srinagar airport in J&K.
#PIBFactCheck
💠This claim is #Fake
💠Rely only on official sources for authentic information. Do not fall for these false claims intended to #mislead and cause confusion.… pic.twitter.com/vRiiJfUmJgOld Video Alert
In an old video, it is being claimed that Indian soldiers are crying and abandoning their posts as the India-Pakistan war intensifies. PIB Fact Check has clarified that this video was posted on Instagram on April 27 and is not related to the Indian Army. The video depicts students from a private defense coaching institute celebrating their selection into the Indian Army. The youth in the video reportedly became emotional with joy upon receiving news of their successful recruitment.
⚠️Old Video Alert!
In an old video, it is being claimed that Indian soldiers are crying and abandoning their posts as the India-Pakistan war intensifies
#PIBFactCheck
✅ This video was posted on Instagram on April 27 and is NOT related to the Indian Army!… pic.twitter.com/wy6EzBUnabFake News Alert
An old video is circulating on social media claiming a Pakistani attack on Jammu. PIB Fact Check has clarified that this video is originally from Dhaka, from February 2025.
🚫 Fake News Alert!
An old video is circulating on social media claiming a Pakistani attack on Jammu.#PIBFactCheck
✅ This video is originally from Dhaka, from February 2025.
✅ Here's a report from that time: https://t.co/QNpSNvivo2
🛡️ Don't fall for misinformation.… pic.twitter.com/ffbXyxBo3UIndian Jets Crash in Kashmir
A news report by China Daily falsely claims that at least three Indian jets crashed in Kashmir. PIB Fact Check has said the image is from an earlier incident from 2019. This is part of a coordinated propaganda campaign aimed at creating panic and misleading the public.
A news report by @ChinaDaily falsely claims that at least three Indian jets crashed in Kashmir.#PIBFactCheck
✅ The image is from an earlier incident from 2019.
🔗Here is a news report from 2019: https://t.co/0BeLRorOvF
🔴 This is part of a coordinated propaganda campaign… pic.twitter.com/E1OQaDYkHVNSA Ajit Doval
PIB Fact Check has said that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's Facebook account is fake. The National Security Advisor does not have an official Facebook account. Citizens are advised to exercise caution and not engage with any impostor or fake profiles claiming to represent them. Rely only on official sources for authentic information, the tweet said.
Is NSA Ajit Doval on Facebook⁉️#PIBFactCheck
🛑 This Facebook account is FAKE
✅ The National Security Advisor does NOT have an official Facebook account.
✅Citizens are advised to exercise caution and not engage with any impostor or fake profiles claiming to represent… pic.twitter.com/N6WNw4f4H5Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
