How the Conflict Started
In late April 2025, Pakistan invited international agencies to investigate whether it played a role in the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack on April 22 killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in Baisaran Valley, a scenic spot known as “mini Switzerland.” India blamed Pakistan, pointing to the Resistance Front, a group it links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, and claimed digital evidence traced to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi. Pakistan denied any involvement and urged a fair, neutral probe to uncover the truth. But before global experts could start their work, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Despite this, international agencies plan to verify the claims, and their findings could shape the future of India-Pakistan tensions.
Pakistan’s offer came as a surprise. Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, told Sky News that Pakistan was ready to cooperate with any credible investigation, even suggesting Russia or China could help. Pakistan argued that India was using the attack as an excuse to punish Pakistan without proof, a view echoed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who called for an end to the “blame game.” The United States appeared to support a neutral probe, but India rejected the idea, calling it a trick. India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, said past investigations, like the 2008 Mumbai attacks, showed Pakistan protecting terrorists despite evidence. This disagreement set the stage for India’s swift military response, which Pakistan said killed 31 civilians, including a young girl, though India insisted it only hit terrorist camps.
Even after the strikes, the push for answers continues. International agencies, possibly backed by the United Nations or neutral countries, are expected to examine evidence like India’s digital traces and Pakistan’s denials. The National Investigation Agency in India has already named two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, as key attackers, based on CCTV footage and survivor accounts. Pakistan, meanwhile, claims it found no evidence of its role and accuses India of staging the attack to justify aggression. The world waits for the probe’s results, which could either calm or inflame this heated rivalry. For now, both nations remain on edge, with Kashmir caught in the middle of their long-standing conflict.
Image created by thekittygirl, used with her kind permission
False Stories Spread During India-Pakistan Tensions
In May 2025, Indian TV channels spread wild stories about fake military wins against Pakistan. This happened during a time of anger between the two countries, after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to hit supposed terrorist spots, following an attack in Pahalgam on April 22. These false reports excited viewers but were quickly proven wrong.
Here’s what happened, why the stories spread, and how they fell apart.
Screenshots are used under fair use for commentary and discussion under Section 107 of Copyright Act
Karachi Port Attack That Never Happened
On May 8, channels like Zee News, Aaj Tak, and News Nation said the Indian Navy destroyed Karachi Port, a major Pakistani trade center. They showed videos of explosions and ships to make it seem real. But Pakistan’s port officials and local reporters, including from Dawn newspaper, said the port was fine and working normally. The videos were actually from a plane crash in Philadelphia in January 2025, not a navy attack. India’s navy never confirmed any attack, showing the story was made up to grab attention.
Fake News About Pakistani Jets
Around the same time, Times Now, Republic TV, and India TV News told viewers that Indian forces shot down Pakistani fighter jets, like an F-16, and caught a pilot. They used the same Philadelphia crash video to pretend it was a jet fight. Pakistan’s government called this “completely fake,” and India’s military said nothing to back it up.
Imaginary Capture of Islamabad
Zee News went further, saying on May 8 and 9 that Indian soldiers took over Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, and its army gave up. They showed computer-made videos of tanks in the city, acting like it was live news. But fact-checkers, like BOOM and Scroll.in, found no truth to this. Pakistan never said anything about losing its capital, and global news, like The Washington Post, called the story impossible. It was pure fiction to thrill viewers.
Made-Up Drone Attack on Pakistan’s Leader
Some channels, including Zee News, CNN-News18, and OneIndia, said Indian drones attacked Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who was hiding or had given up. These stories, aired on May 8 and 9, used fake videos of drone strikes. Pakistani news, like Geo.tv, said no such attack happened, and India’s government never mentioned it. The mixed-up claims about Sharif hiding and surrendering showed how sloppy the reports were.
Lies About Destroying Pakistani Cities
In Assam, channels like News Live and NKTV said India wiped out 12 Pakistani cities in one attack on May 8. They claimed Sharif was hiding underground and showed old videos of destroyed buildings. No one, in India or Pakistan, could prove this happened. Scroll.in found the videos were from other disasters, not new attacks. The huge claim was meant to make people feel proud but had no basis.
Screenshot is used under fair use for commentary and discussion under Section 107 of Copyright Act
False Coup Against Pakistan’s Army Chief
On May 9, Zee News, ABP News, and others said Pakistan’s army leader, General Asim Munir, was arrested in a coup or forced to quit. Times Now even said it started at midnight. But Pakistan’s government and Dawn news said Munir was still in charge, and no coup happened. The story spread fast with no proof, likely to make Pakistan seem weak.
Fake Video of Pakistan Admitting Losses
India Today and social media shared a video claiming Pakistan’s military admitted losing two jets to India. The video was an AI-made fake, copying a Pakistani official’s voice. Pakistan denied saying this, and no real news confirmed any jet losses. This showed how AI tricks could spread lies that looked convincing.
Untrue Terrorist Attack in Rajouri
Aaj Tak, with anchors Sweta Singh and Anjana Om Kashyap, said on May 8 that terrorists attacked an Indian army unit in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, in a suicide mission. They had no official source, and Scroll.in and Geo.tv said no such attack happened. The story was another unproven claim in the media storm.
Why This Matters
Trusted fact-checkers like BOOM, Geo.tv, and The Washington Post quickly debunked the wild stories Indian channels spread during the 2025 India-Pakistan clash. India’s 151st ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index revealed deep flaws in its newsrooms, where stations like Zee News and Aaj Tak often picked drama over facts to stir patriotic feelings. Fake videos, AI-made deepfakes, and invented images fueled these lies, spreading fast on social media and playing on people’s fears. Indian media also pushed to silence Pakistan’s side, as platforms like X and YouTube banned accounts of Pakistani outlets like Dawn, 16 YouTube channels including Geo News and ARY News, actors like Mahira Khan, and even ordinary citizens for sharing their views. These bans, often linked to pressure from Indian authorities, aimed to block Pakistani narratives from reaching Indian viewers, tilting the story in India’s favor. This chaos shows why digging for truth and questioning news, especially during tense times, is vital to understanding what’s really happening.