False Claims About Attack on Sialkot Debunked: Old Images from Gaza Misused in Indian Propaganda
Claim:
Visuals showing explosions and smoke in a densely populated urban area were circulated online, with the assertion that they depicted a recent Indian military strike on the Pakistani city of Sialkot.
Verdict:
False. The images are not from Sialkot or from any recent event. They were taken in Gaza in May 2021 following Israeli airstrikes and have been deliberately misrepresented to spread false claims about unrest in Pakistan.
Fact Check:
A series of visuals showing massive explosions and clouds of smoke over urban structures were widely circulated by Indian propaganda networks, claiming they depicted an early morning attack on Sialkot. The campaign attempted to present Pakistan as under siege and destabilized.
However, thorough image verification and reverse image search revealed that the photos were originally captured during Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. One prominent image used in these posts was found in a May 19, 2021 news article, credited to AFP photographer Mohammed Abed, with the caption confirming that it showed the aftermath of air raids on Gaza City on May 16, 2021.
Further investigation uncovered that the same image and others from the same sequence were used by multiple accounts, all attributing them falsely to recent events in Pakistan. In some cases, users openly encouraged the dissemination of the false claims, urging others to avoid fact-checking and to share the content as part of a broader anti-Pakistan narrative.
Despite the widespread circulation of the visuals, there were no reports of any attack on Sialkot by credible news agencies or government authorities. On the contrary, official sources in Pakistan confirmed that Sialkot remains calm, safe, and fully under control. No incident resembling the circulated imagery took place.
Conclusion:
This incident exposes a coordinated disinformation effort aimed at spreading falsehoods about internal instability in Pakistan. By repurposing graphic content from unrelated conflict zones, Indian propaganda outlets have attempted to construct a narrative of military action where none exists. The campaign not only lacked evidence but also relied on manipulative tactics that violate journalistic integrity and international norms.
Such actions highlight the growing use of information warfare as a political tool and raise serious concerns about digital accountability, cross-border misinformation, and media ethics. The false claim about an attack on Sialkot has been definitively debunked, reaffirming the need for rigorous fact-checking and vigilance against propaganda.
