Operation Sindoor: Pakistani media twisting the truth, says I&B Ministry

Indian Ministry accuses Pakistani media of spreading disinformation about Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads, not civilians.

The Information & Broadcasting Ministry on Friday (May 9, 2025) accused the Pakistani media of twisting the facts to “mislead their audience” and “shield terror actors behind a facade of patriotic propaganda”.

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“Operation Sindoor was launched as a response to the attack that took place in Pahalgam, on April 22, killing 26 civilians. During the press briefing on May 7, India clarified its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response,” it said.

The Ministry said: “What should have been a moment of international reckoning against terror has instead been manipulated into a disinformation war, where truth is the first casualty”.

Flagging the “grossly exaggerated claims”, it said nearly all major Pakistani news channel such as “Geo News, Dunya News, ARY News, and SAMAA TV have been repeating the same unverifiable, inflated claim: that the Pakistan Air Force has shot down Indian drones”.

“For instance:Geo News alleges 25–29 drones were intercepted without providing visual evidence or independent verification. Duniya News inflated that number to 32 drones. ARY News claimed 25 drones were shot down, and also added drama by naming Israeli-made Harop drones allegedly used by India,” the Ministry said.

“With no neutral tone and gross misrepresentation of facts, these are coordinated attempts to portray Pakistan as both the victim. There is no mention that these drones were targeting terrorist launchpads, not civilian zones,” it said.