Modern conflict extends far beyond the battlefield. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi thunderously announced that we have entered a “new normal" where a “jaw-breaking response will be given" if India is attacked by Pakistan and stated that India will only talk about terror and the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, the information domain proved critical.

Operation Sindoor saw an intense information war parallel to military and non-military actions, where both nations sought to control the narrative. While Pakistan initiated a significant propaganda push after India hit terror camps across PoK and Pakistan, evidence suggests India employed a more systematic approach, combining defensive fact-checking with proactive information-shaping strategies to influence perceptions both domestically and internationally, and potentially within Pakistan itself.

Following India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, Pakistan quickly initiated a concerted propaganda campaign. The aim was to spread false information, mislead the global community, and attempt to regain control of the narrative. This effort flooded digital platforms with various fabricated claims and recycled media.

Key elements of Pakistan’s information offensive included presenting old photos and videos as recent, combat-related content. They circulated widely false claims about Indian losses, alleging downed jets – specifically naming Rafales and Su-30s—and captured soldiers. Pakistan also claimed significant damage to critical Indian military infrastructure, including assertions that their forces had destroyed........

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