An Indian journalist has admitted that the widely circulated reports of Pakistani fighter jets being shot down were false, while a U.S. newspaper has revealed that the Indian government launched a crackdown against those who attempted to tell the truth.
According to a report published by a leading U.S. newspaper, Indian media broadcasted videos of explosions in Gaza as if they were footage of an alleged Pakistani attack. The report highlights how Indian media became a tool of state propaganda during heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, seriously undermining India’s democratic claims.
The American publication stated that there was neither evidence nor independent verification of these claims, yet the Indian media presented them as established facts. It further noted that the propagation of such falsehoods during the conflict raised critical questions about media integrity and government influence in India.
Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai admitted that the claim about Pakistani jets being shot down was false. He also confirmed that the Indian government cracked down on those who exposed the truth, instead of correcting the misinformation.
The report also revealed that more than 8,000 social media accounts—most of them belonging to Pakistani users—were blocked in India following legal requests from the Indian government. This move has been widely criticized as an attempt to suppress dissent and manipulate the narrative during a sensitive period of regional conflict.
The revelations have sparked renewed concerns about the role of media and state censorship in shaping public perception, particularly during times of geopolitical tension.
