Although India and Pakistan have officially declared a ceasefire after nearing the brink of open conflict, the digital battleground remains active, with both sides engaged in an intense disinformation war to shape public opinion.
Social media platforms like Facebook and X continue to be flooded with misleading and doctored content related to the recent air strikes that killed at least 60 people and forced thousands to flee. Many of the viral clips have been proven false—some actually depict events from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the war in Ukraine.
Mainstream media in both countries have also played a role in spreading unverified or inaccurate narratives, including fabricated claims of military success, which experts say have only deepened hostility and fueled a surge in hate speech.
General Dominique Trinquand, an international relations expert and former French military representative to the UN, remarked that determining the factual military developments is difficult amid this “communication war.”
The spread of disinformation reached its peak following India’s air strikes on alleged militant camps inside Pakistan—conducted two weeks after an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, mostly Hindu men. India blames Pakistan for supporting the attackers, an accusation Islamabad strongly denies.
In response, Pakistan released a video clip purportedly showing damage from Indian strikes, but it was later identified as footage from a 2023 Israeli air raid in Gaza. Despite the correction and retractions by some media outlets, the video had already gone viral.
Deepfakes and AI-generated content have further complicated the information landscape. One circulating video falsely shows a Pakistani general admitting to aircraft losses, which was later revealed to be a digitally altered version of an older press briefing.
“We’re seeing a new wave of AI-driven misinformation—both in images and videos—because of easier access to deepfake tools,” explained Joyojeet Pal, associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Information.
Government Response and Digital Crackdowns
Both nations have used the evolving digital environment to promote their own narratives. Pakistan notably lifted its year-long ban on X the same day as the Indian air strikes—something analysts interpret as a strategic move to project its perspective globally.
Usama Khilji, a Pakistani digital rights advocate, noted, “During such a crisis, the state needed to amplify its voice internationally rather than mute it for internal political reasons.”
Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) issued a nationwide alert on May 8, warning of a spike in cyberattacks and misinformation disseminated via emails, social platforms, QR codes, and messaging apps.
Soon after, official X accounts belonging to Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Karachi Port Trust were hacked. A false post claimed the port had been attacked by Indian forces—an assertion later debunked by the port authority.
Meanwhile, India launched a digital offensive, ordering the blocking of over 8,000 X accounts and banning more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading inflammatory content. This included news outlets, celebrities, and political figures.
India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check has refuted over 60 misinformation claims, many of which involved exaggerated or fabricated Pakistani military achievements.
Hate Speech on the Rise
The misinformation wave has also coincided with a surge in real-world hate speech. A report from the US-based India Hate Lab recorded 64 instances of hate-fueled public speeches between April 22 and May 2—many of which were recorded and circulated online.
Raqib Hameed Naik, director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, said the April 22 attack near Pahalgam ignited a “dramatic rise in rallies where far-right figures used the tragedy to provoke hatred against Muslims and Kashmiris.”
Online videos show individuals dressed in Hindu attire calling for economic boycotts of Muslims. Similar provocative rallies have occurred in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
While the guns may have gone silent, Naik cautioned that the spread of hate continues unabated.
“The ceasefire may have paused the military escalation, but the machinery of hate never rests. It’s likely to re-emerge with even more intensity.”
