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As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, a wave of misinformation is flooding social media, with misleading videos, outdated images, and false advisories sowing confusion among millions.
Since India's missile strikes on Pakistan on 7 May, fact-checkers, government agencies, and digital forensics experts have been working nonstop to debunk viral content. Fake footage claiming to show the strikes, including a widely circulated clip allegedly depicting Indian missile attacks on Bahawalpur, was traced to an Israeli airstrike on Gaza from October 2023, as confirmed by Alt News and BBC Verify.
Other false narratives have included fabricated claims of Pakistani drone strikes, AI-generated images, and recycled footage from conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and even video games like Battlefield 3. Meanwhile, a false advisory mimicking civil defence protocols urged citizens to stockpile essentials, prompting the Indian Press Information Bureau to label it “FAKE” and caution against misinformation campaigns allegedly linked to Pakistan.
With both sides shaping their narratives and recycled content fueling emotional reactions, fact-checkers warn that the line between fact and fiction is increasingly blurred, complicating efforts to verify claims in a highly polarized environment.
