Government Denies Reports of Pakistani Strikes on Amritsar Military Base

Hours after India launched Operation Sindoor — a high-precision military offensive targeting nine terror camps across the border in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack — a wave of misinformation began circulating online, especially through Pakistani media outlets and government-linked social media handles. One of the most prominent claims was that Pakistan had launched a retaliatory strike on an Indian military base in Amritsar.

A video being circulated as “proof” of the Amritsar attack was also debunked. However, it actually showed footage of a wildfire from 2024. The Indian government swiftly responded to the disinformation, with its official fact-checking body, the PIB Fact Check, called the claims “completely false.”

“Old videos are being circulated by Pakistan-based handles claiming an attack on the Amritsar military base. The footage is not recent and has nothing to do with any military action,” the PIB clarified on X. They urged the public not to fall for such unverified claims and to trust only official government updates.

This wasn’t the only fake alert doing the rounds. Another widely circulated post claimed the Indian government had issued an emergency advisory asking people to stock up on essentials like food and medicine. That, too, was fake. The government made it clear that no such advisory had been issued, labelling the viral message as completely fabricated.

Adding to the disinformation, some accounts affiliated with Pakistan’s military media wing and its PR division, ISPR, claimed the Pakistan Air Force had destroyed India’s Srinagar Airbase and an Army Brigade HQ. However, none of these claims came with any credible evidence—no visuals, no satellite images, nothing to back them up.

India’s military response was swift and precise. In just 25 minutes, the Indian Army launched 24 missile strikes across nine locations in Pakistan and PoK, including Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Rawalakot. These coordinated strikes reportedly killed 70 terrorists and injured 60 more. Officials say the mission was not just about retaliation—it was a carefully planned effort to hit terror networks hard without giving them a chance to react.

But Pakistan answered back with what the Indian Army described as “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing across the Line of Control (LoC). On Wednesday night, Pakistani troops shelled several areas along the border—including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. It marked the 14th straight day of cross-border shelling. Tragically, the attacks claimed 13 lives, including four children and one Indian soldier.

According to an official Army statement, in response, the Indian forces retaliated proportionally.

Indian authorities are urging the public to stay calm, stay alert, and not share anything that isn’t verified by an official source. With tensions running high, misinformation spreading quickly online.