Fact Check Alert: Fake News Floods Social Media Amid India-Pakistan Conflict, Full List Inside

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated during May 8 and 9, many social media posts flooded the internet, but not all of them are true. While real-time updates from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan, and the Line of Control (LoC) are being closely monitored, several fake videos, photos, and false claims are also being spread by users.

The Indian government has strongly advised citizens to avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official sources for accurate news.

Also read: Insights from Commando Prince Jamwall on Nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill

Here’s a full list of fake news that’s being circulated and what’s actually true.

1. No, Pakistan Did Not Launch a Missile at India

A widely shared video claiming a missile attack by Pakistan is actually a clip from the 2020 Beirut blast in Lebanon. This footage has nothing to do with the current situation between India and Pakistan.

2. Jalandhar Drone Attack? It Was Just a Farm Fire

Another video that is going viral claims a drone strike took place in Jalandhar. Fact check: The video shows a farm fire unrelated to military action.

3. False Claims of Strike in Amritsar

Several old videos are being reshared by Pakistan-based handles, falsely showing a strike on a military base in Amritsar. These videos are not recent and have no connection to current events.

4. UAV Interception Claim is From the Russia-Ukraine War

A post with an image showing the Pakistan Army intercepting a UAV drone is actually from the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. It is being wrongly linked to India.

5. Old IAF Helicopter Crash Video Shared Again

A 2019 video of an Indian Air Force helicopter crash near Budgam is being reshared as if it just happened. This is an old incident unrelated to current events.

6. Fake Video of Attack on Indian Military Colony

A video claiming a Pakistani attack on an Indian military colony is actually from Indonesia. The video is dated May 6, 2025, and is unrelated to the current conflict.

7. Battle Sector Strike Video is Old

Another video doing the rounds claims that Pakistan conducted strikes on Indian posts in the Battal Sector. This is an old video, and it has no connection to any recent activity after Operation Sindoor.

8. S-400 Hit by Missile? False and Misleading

An image showing a missile hitting an Indian S-400 is actually from a fire at a military site in Moscow in 2023. It is being wrongly passed off as a recent event in India.

9. Hazira Port Not Attacked

A video claiming an attack at Hazira Port in Gujarat is also false. The video is from July 2021 and shows an oil tanker explosion, not a military strike.

10. Rajouri Fidayeen Attack is Fake

False rumours claimed a fidayeen (suicide) attack targeted an Indian Army brigade in Rajouri, but fact-checkers have flagged the video as misinformation.

11. Fake Confidential Letter by Non-Existent Army Chief

An online letter, allegedly written by the Chief of Army Staff General VK Narayan, is entirely fake. There is no such Army Chief named VK Narayan, and the letter is unreal.

12. India Did Not Attack Its Own Citizens

A shocking claim suggested that India used the Ambala Airbase to attack Amritsar and its own citizens. This is baseless and false. The Ministry of Defence has issued a detailed press release clarifying the truth.

13. No Airport Entry Ban Across India

Posts claiming that airports across India are now under entry ban are fake. The Indian government has not announced any such restriction.

14. Jammu Air Force Base Explosion is from Kabul 2021

An image being used to claim multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base is actually from the Kabul Airport blast that happened in August 2021.

15. Wildfire Video Passed Off as Amritsar Military Attack

Old footage from a wildfire in 2024 is being shared as a recent Pakistani strike on a military base in Amritsar. This is completely false.

16. India Did Not Target Neelum-Jhelum Power Plant

Some posts claim India targeted Pakistan’s Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. This is not true. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India only targeted terrorist infrastructure.

17. Fake Video About Indian Post Destruction

A video alleging that the Pakistan Army destroyed an Indian military post is staged and fake. Also, it mentions a non-existent unit called ’20 Raj Battalion’, which does not exist in the Indian Army.

18. MLRS Attack Video is From a Video Game

One of the most absurd videos claims to show a real Pakistani MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) attack on India. In reality, this is a video game clip that has been online for over three years.

What does the Indian Government say?

With the rise in fake content, the Indian government has once again issued an advisory asking people not to forward or share any news, photos, or videos unless verified by official sources. Trust only press releases from the Government of India or updates from defence spokespersons.

Stay Alert, Stay Informed

Spreading misinformation can do more harm than good at this time. Always double-check the source of the information and follow trusted news agencies or official government handles. Let’s not fall for fake news and instead support peace with responsibility.