A new investigative report by Fake News Watchdog has dismissed the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief’s claims of shooting down six Pakistani aircraft during “Operation Sindoor,” declaring the statement baseless and politically motivated.
The report found no evidence of any Pakistani aircraft being downed and described the announcement as a failed attempt to divert attention from India’s internal political crises.
According to the findings, the IAF statement lacked credible proof, while images released by Indian authorities were termed “fabricated and poor quality.” The watchdog revealed that Indian media used old footage and artificially generated images, presenting them as genuine evidence to support the claim.
Defense experts noted a “severe absence of verifiable data” in the Indian version of events.
The report further highlighted that in official policy documents, the Indian Air Force itself made no mention of downing Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sundoor. Instead, it pointed out that Pakistan successfully neutralized India’s S-400 defense system, inflicting damage that New Delhi has chosen not to acknowledge.
Global reactions also undermined the Indian claim. American defense analysts refused to endorse New Delhi’s version, while a Chinese defense expert described the IAF chief’s remarks as “comical.” Pakistan challenged India to open its records for impartial international verification, underscoring that false narratives only escalate regional tensions.
The watchdog also raised questions about the timing of the statement, linking it to Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Indian opposition parties accused the government of deliberately spreading propaganda to mislead the public and deflect criticism amid growing domestic challenges.
