Fact Check: Govt debunks Pak's claims of striking India's S-400 system

The Government of India issued a detailed report highlighting multiple instances of disinformation detected between May 8 and May 9

The Centre on Friday debunked false claims that a missile from Pakistan struck India’s S-400 missile air defence system. The government clarified that the image is actually from a 2023 fire at a military site in Moscow.

 

The Government of India said that the majority of misinformation came through Pakistani social media handles. This includes the circulation of a number of false images and old videos, wrongly connecting them to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’.

 

1. False claim of military attack in Amritsar

 

Pakistan-based handles spread videos that allegedly showed strikes on a military base in Amritsar. However, the government's fact-check unit debunked this, stating that they were old videos and had nothing to do with any Pakistani attack on India. 

 

 

⚠️Pakistan Propaganda Alert!  Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar. #PIBFactCheck  ✔️The video being shared is from a wildfire from 2024  ✅ Avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official… pic.twitter.com/1FdtfXUqEY

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

2. Wrong claim of IAF helicopter crash

 

In another instance, Pakistani social media accounts shared videos that claimed to show an Indian Air Force helicopter crashing. This helicopter crash was linked to Operation Sindoor. 

 

However, the Centre's fact-check unit cleared that the video was from an earlier incident from 2019, involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter that crashed near Budgam, J&K.

 

Viral Video Alert! Truth Behind the Aircraft Crash Linked to #OperationSindoor!  Pakistani social media accounts are recycling an old video and sharing it in the present context.#PIBFactCheck  ✅ The video is from an earlier incident from 2019, involving an Indian Air Force… pic.twitter.com/md42wWpxO2

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

3. False claims of Pak strike in Battal Sector of J&K

 

Pakistan-based social media handles have also been found to be circulating a video claiming that the Pakistan Army struck posts in Battal Sector, Jammu & Kashmir, eliminating at least 12 Indian soldiers.

 

However, a fact check revealed that the video has no relation to the ongoing conflict. The video dates back to August 2011.

 

Pakistan-based handles are circulating a video claiming that the Pakistan Army strikes posts in Battal Sector, Jammu & Kashmir, eliminating at least 12 Indian soldiers.#PIBFactCheck  ✅This video is old and NOT related to any activity post #OperationSindoor  ✅This image is… pic.twitter.com/n4mWxr21jw

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

4. Claims of striking India’s S-400 system

 

Several Pakistan-based accounts are circulating an old image claiming that a Pakistani missile struck an Indian S-400 system. However, the image is actually from a 2023 fire at a military site in Moscow.

 

⚠️Pakistan Propaganda Alert  Several Pakistan-based handles are circulating an #old image that claims that a Pakistani missile has hit an Indian S-400#PIBFactCheck  ✔️The image being shared is from 2023, of a fire at a military site in Moscow  ????https://t.co/kcgY8vtCia pic.twitter.com/Pmo7U9KXJr

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

5. Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project disinformation

 

A social media post falsely claimed that India targeted the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. This allegation is entirely baseless, the government said. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press conference, had also earlier clarified that India has solely targeted terrorist infrastructure.

 

Social Media post falsely claims India targeted the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in #Pakistan. #PIBFactCheck  ✅ This claim is baseless.  ✅ Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has clearly stated in a press conference that India has only targeted terrorist infrastructure.… pic.twitter.com/6GMVoLMIS4

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

6. Misinformation on Hazira Port in Gujarat

 

A video claiming that the Hazira Port in Gujarat had been attacked was also debunked. Fact check unit found that the footage shows an unrelated oil tanker explosion from July 7, 2021. 

This video is widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in #Gujarat has been attacked #PIBFactCheck  * This is an unrelated video confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion. The video is dated July 7, 2021.  * Do not share this video. Refer the link… pic.twitter.com/nlQwgVAj3k

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025