White flag, fighter jet crash, BrahMos: Fake claims busted after India’s cross-border strikes
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Following Operation Sindoor on May 7 — an Indian Armed Forces strike targeting areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir — a surge of misinformation has flooded social media platforms. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of India has flagged several fake narratives being widely circulated, particularly by pro-Pakistan accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the main claims debunked by official sources:
1. White flag at LoC
A video showing soldiers waving a white flag at the Line of Control is being falsely presented as Indian troops retrieving bodies after a failed mission. In reality, the footage dates back to September 2019 and shows Pakistani troops using a white flag to recover their own soldiers’ bodies after a ceasefire violation.
2. Indian fighter plane crash
A clip shared by multiple Pakistani social media accounts claims to show a recent Indian fighter jet being shot down. However, this video is from February 2025, when an IAF Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed near Shivpuri, Gwalior during a routine training sortie. The incident had no connection to Operation Sindoor.
3. Fake DRDO letter on BrahMos failure
A letter circulating online, allegedly signed by a scientist named AS Kumar from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), claims there was a technical failure in BrahMos missile components. PIB has confirmed this letter is fake — no such scientist exists at DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment.
4. Old aircraft crash image
Another image shows a downed aircraft with claims that Pakistan shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor. This is false — the image is from 2021, when an IAF MiG-21 crashed in Punjab’s Moga district.
5. False claim of Indian Brigade HQ being destroyed
Viral posts alleging that Pakistan destroyed an Indian Brigade Headquarters have also been labelled completely fake by PIB. No such incident has taken place.
6. Srinagar airbase attack video
A video circulating online claims the Pakistan Air Force bombed the Srinagar airbase. However, the footage is neither recent nor from India. It is actually from sectarian violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in 2024.
Fact-check authorities urge citizens to remain cautious and avoid spreading unverified claims. The PIB has reiterated that only official government channels should be relied upon for updates regarding military operations and national security developments.