In the screengrab from a video posted by @adgpi via X on Friday, May 9, 2025, Indian Army neutralises a Pakistani target.
| Photo Credit: PTI
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”.
“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.
The Ministry accused Pakistani networks of repeatedly emphasising “civilian casualties” “without offering concrete details or differentiating between civilian zones and terror camps”
“HUM News and SAMAA TV extensively highlight emergency room visuals and civilian interviews from cities like Karachi and Lahore. Not a single channel admits that many of the targeted structures were identified Indian-designated terror facilities- the home to Jaish-e-Mohammed elements and Lashkar-e-Taiba remnants,” it said.
The Ministry alleged that Dawn News “outrightly denied Pakistan launching any attacks or harboured militants involved in terror strikes inside India. ARY News and Duniya News call Indian media reports of Pakistani activity in Jammu & Kashmir ‘fake news’ and ‘propaganda’.
“None of these channels mention terrorists reported killed during Operation Sindoor. These deaths would validate the strike’s strategic importance, yet completely censored in Pakistani coverage.
“Express News ran dramatic segments alleging Indian missile strikes on the Karachi Port, claiming Pakistan Navy installations were targeted. Yet, no verified information is provided. Instead, terms like ‘shameful attack’ and ‘inevitable clash’ are used by the DG ISPR, Pakistan,” said the Ministry.
In a stark contrast, the Ministry said the Indian army officially released a video confirming the shooting down of Pakistani drones along the western border, “in response to multiple coordinated attacks by Pakistan armed forces using drones and other munitions”.
The Indian Army’s statement outlined that Pakistan launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks across the western front
Stating that there were numerous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir and drone/missile attacks launched from Pakistan, the Ministry said: “the real evidence, including military footage, and official updates, shows that Pakistan started the attacks, and India responded in a controlled but strong manner”.
Published – May 09, 2025 12:37 pm IST
