PIB Debunks False Claims Circulated by Pakistani Platforms, Warns of Heightened Propaganda Campaign Targeting Indian Armed Forces
In a strong rebuttal to a wave of misinformation being circulated online by Pakistani social media handles, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) has categorically dismissed recent claims attributed to Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh, the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army.
The posts, widely shared on various Pakistani platforms, falsely alleged that Lt Gen Singh had conceded India’s defeat at the hands of Pakistan’s electronic warfare and intelligence capabilities, supposedly enhanced by Chinese technology.
The PIB Fact Check division, which monitors and debunks false information about the Government of India and its key institutions, labelled the viral content as completely fake and fabricated.
“This is Fake! No such statement has been made by the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Rahul R Singh,” PIB stated in a public alert posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens not to fall for manipulated narratives being circulated with malicious intent.
The Fabricated Claim
The misleading social media posts quoted Lt Gen Singh as allegedly stating:
“Pakistan’s electronic warfare and C4 intelligence capability truly surprised us, and the Chinese technology played a big role in defeating India.”
This fabricated quote was circulated aggressively by Pakistani accounts, aiming to project a false narrative of Indian military vulnerability and Chinese superiority in support of Pakistan. However, no such statement was ever made by the Indian officer.
What Lt Gen Singh had said during an official interaction on Friday was grounded in factual analysis and strategic foresight. He noted:
“When the DGMO-level talks were going on, Pakistan was getting live inputs of our deployment from China. So that is one place we need to move fast and take appropriate action… In the last five years, 81 per cent of the military hardware with Pakistan is Chinese.”
This remark was a candid strategic assessment of emerging threats, highlighting the growing Chinese-Pakistani military nexus, rather than any admission of “defeat” as falsely portrayed by foreign propaganda networks.
Pakistan’s Persistent Misinformation Campaign
This is not an isolated incident. Pakistani social media networks have increasingly resorted to the deliberate and systematic dissemination of false information, particularly targeting the Indian armed forces, national security institutions, and government leadership.
Such disinformation is often timed with periods of heightened tension or sensitive geopolitical developments to cause panic, undermine public trust, or distort India’s global image.
Just two days before this episode, the PIB Fact Check division had also exposed another malicious claim, once again originating from Pakistani digital ecosystems.
That false post asserted that the United States had issued a warning to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a major Pakistani attack and that India had supposedly “accepted certain conditions” to avoid conflict.
This baseless claim was quickly denounced by PIB as “not only misleading but a misrepresentation” of a completely different and factual statement made by India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishanka, during an interview with Newsweek.
Strategic Use of Disinformation as a Weapon
Pakistan’s use of digital platforms to wage an information war has become a well-documented pattern.
In recent years, intelligence and cybersecurity agencies have repeatedly flagged how Pakistani state and non-state actors have weaponized social media platforms, deploying fake accounts, doctored media, and manipulated statements to create confusion and fuel anti-India narratives.
These efforts are especially visible during cross-border incidents, internal disturbances, or times of military activity.
According to a PIB advisory published on its official broadcast platform, News On AIR, the pattern of disinformation has only intensified during periods of conflict.
The bureau explicitly warned the public that Pakistan has consistently engaged in spreading fake news and misinformation online, with the intent to undermine India’s internal stability and security preparedness.
Call for Vigilance
In light of the increasing volume of such propaganda, the PIB has urged all citizens — especially social media users, journalists, and analysts — to exercise utmost caution and vigilance while consuming or sharing information related to the Indian military, government policy, or ongoing geopolitical developments.
The advisory reads:
Pakistan has been resorting to spreading propaganda on social media. It is crucial to scrutinise every piece of information carefully in this critical time. If you encounter dubious content, especially concerning the Indian Armed Forces or any info related to the ongoing situation, you must report it to PIB Fact Check.”
To aid in countering this menace, the PIB has provided clear reporting channels. Citizens can report suspicious or misleading content to the Fact Check team via:
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WhatsApp: +91 8799711259
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Email: factcheck@pib.gov.in
As digital misinformation becomes a frontline tactic in modern hybrid warfare, the Indian government is urging its citizens not only to be consumers of content but also defenders of truth.
With Pakistan’s continued attempts to tarnish India’s image and sow confusion through fabricated statements, a well-informed and vigilant population remains the first line of defence.
