ISLAMABAD: A latest investigative report by the Fake News Watchdog has found that several mainstream Indian media outlets disseminated disinformation during the India-Pakistan conflict from 7 to 10 May.
The 48-page report reveals how fabricated content and misleading narratives were circulated with apparent state backing to manipulate public perception and create a false sense of military success.
The watchdog’s findings show that Indian media shared recycled footage, digitally altered visuals, and fake news to misrepresent battlefield developments and discredit Pakistan.
According to the report, old clips from Israeli Iron Dome operations and 2007 conflict footage from Iraq were falsely presented as part of India’s recent military operation.
One of the most prominent cases cited involved India Today, which aired animated missile simulations and misrepresented them as real combat footage.
The report also notes the broadcast of a deepfake video of the Pakistani Prime Minister, falsely implying that he had conceded military defeat.
The Fake News Watchdog found that Indian government officials, including those from the Ministry of External Affairs, used outdated and unrelated footage to support claims regarding incidents like the Pulwama attack.
These efforts, the report says, formed part of a broader attempt to influence both domestic and international audiences.
False reports aired by outlets such as Zee News and India Today included claims about the arrest of Pakistan’s Army Chief, Indian troop advances into Pakistani territory, and attacks on Islamabad—all of which were proven baseless.
Additional disinformation included fabricated reports of Pakistani aircraft being shot down in Srinagar and the alleged capture of a Pakistani pilot.
The report also identifies the use of AI-generated videos portraying US and Israeli planes landing in Jaipur, presented as evidence of foreign military support—claims that were found to be entirely fabricated.
Social media further amplified unverified reports regarding the capture of Indian and Pakistani pilots.
Assertions made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, claiming that 100 Pakistani civilians had been killed during the clashes, were also discredited.
Fake screenshots impersonating global media outlets and spreading false war statistics were widely circulated.
Following the ceasefire on 10 May, the Indian media faced extensive criticism from international media watchdogs and fact-checkers, resulting in a notable erosion of its credibility.
The Fake News Watchdog maintained that the deliberate spread of disinformation during the conflict highlights the dangers of unchecked media narratives in times of crisis.
