Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the government's fact-checking department is countering misinformation being spread by sources emanating from Pakistan. Press Information Bureau (PIB)’s Fact-Checking team, which busts fake news and misinformation related to the government, has issued as many as eight alerts, debunking propaganda circulating on social media intended to create panic among the public.

In its latest post on X, PIB's Fact Check team debunked a false claim about a viral WhatsApp message that stated ATMs would be closed for two to three days. The message is fake, the Fact Check cell has confirmed. "A viral #WhatsApp message claims ATMs will be closed for 2-3 days. This message is FAKE. ATMs will continue to operate as usual. Don’t share unverified messages."

In another alert, the team addressed claims made by Pakistani social media handles that a Sukhoi Su-30mki had been shot down in Muzaffarabad and that an Indian pilot had been captured. This is Pakistani propaganda, it clarified. "This Sukhoi SU-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Undre Vasti of Kulwadi village near the Pune-Ahmednagar highway, Maharashtra, on October 14, 2014."

A separate video showing a heavy MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) barrage is also being falsely circulated as evidence of a Pakistani attack on India. "The video is from a video game and has been online for over three years. It has no connection to the current India–Pakistan situation."

Another video being circulated that claims to show a drone attack in Jalandhar is also unrelated. "This is a video of a farm fire. The video shows the time as 7:39 PM, while the drone attack began later. Do not share this video."

The PIB team also flagged a staged video being shared by Pakistani handles, alleging that an Indian post was destroyed by the Pakistani Army. "The claim is completely false, and the video is staged. There is no unit called '20 Raj Battalion' in the Indian Army."

An old video is also being circulated on social media, claiming that Pakistan has launched a missile attack on India in retaliation. According to PIB’s Fact Check team, the video is actually of the explosion that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020. "Don't fall for the propaganda being spread by Pakistani handles. Rely only on official information."

Social media posts also claim that entry to airports across India has been banned. This is false. "The government has taken no such decision."

Fake news has also suggested a “fidayeen” attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. The government clarified that there has been no such fidayeen or suicide attack on any army cantonment.

In yet another provocation, Pakistan on Thursday evening targeted Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot with missiles and drones, but the attack was foiled by the Indian Armed Forces, and no major loss was reported. The attack came after India retaliated to drone strikes launched by Pakistan on as many as 15 defence locations in India on Wednesday night. These drone missiles were intercepted and destroyed by India before they could cause any damage. In response, India's armed forces hit critical defence infrastructure in Pakistan, including the air defence system in Lahore.

The Indian Armed Forces launched “Operation Sindoor” in the early hours of May 7, 2025, to hit terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed. This come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered.