The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit on Wednesday dismissed a viral video circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack was a staged “false flag” operation by the Indian government.
The video, originally posted by a user named Nandhini Saran, featured a man dressed in military attire, alleging to be an Indian Army soldier from Jammu. In the clip, he accused the Modi government and the BJP of orchestrating the terror attack to stoke tensions and manipulate public sentiment. The post accompanying the video included inflammatory hashtags like #PahalgamJhootHai and #IndiaPakistanWar2025, aiming to fuel suspicion and outrage.
However, PIB’s Fact Check Unit quickly intervened, flagging the video as “FAKE” and confirming that the individual shown is a deserter who has been absent from duty since March 2025. “He is neither authorised nor in a position to speak on recent security operations,” the PIB said in an official statement on X (formerly Twitter). “He has not been in touch with his unit or family for months. People are advised not to fall for such misinformation.”
The PIB also highlighted how such videos can be dangerous, especially when shared in the context of ongoing national security operations. “Circulating unverified content can harm public morale and national integrity. Always verify the authenticity of such posts,” the bureau warned.
This isn't the first time the Fact Check Unit has stepped in. Earlier this week, it debunked misleading claims made by Pakistan’s military spokesperson. In a press briefing, Pakistan’s DG ISPR cited Indian media to claim that Indian airbases had been destroyed—an assertion that the PIB categorically called “false and fabricated.”
“Pakistan showed an edited clip from @IndiaTV, misleading its audience. The complete video actually shows Indian missile defense intercepting incoming threats, and no airbase was harmed,” PIB clarified in a follow-up post.
Additionally, reports circulating about artillery exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC) were also labelled as “baseless rumours” by the Fact Check Unit.
