Has Pakistan Initiated a Disinformation Campaign Against the Indian Army?

Jammu, May 3 (NationPress) The Indian Army announced on Saturday that the Pakistani media and their proxy social media accounts have initiated a disinformation campaign targeting the officers of the Indian Armed Forces, following India's unwavering determination to hold accountable those responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

“In light of India’s steadfast commitment to address the culprits of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, numerous media outlets and proxy social media accounts based in Pakistan have engaged in a synchronized disinformation initiative aimed at undermining senior officers of the Indian Armed Forces,” a defence ministry official stated.

He further emphasized that these allegations have been thoroughly discredited by official documents and reliable fact-checking, once again highlighting Islamabad’s tendency to resort to false narratives in the face of decisive actions from India.

“Pakistani channels and troll networks falsely claimed that Lieutenant General D.S. Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, was 'dismissed' and sent to the 'Kala Pani penal colony' in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to alleged operational failures,” he added.

The defence official clarified that instead of being dismissed, Lieutenant General Rana has been elevated to the position of Commander-in-Chief in his current role, and he will assume command of the prestigious Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) on June 1, 2025.

“Pro-Pakistani social media accounts insinuated that Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar was ‘removed’ from the Northern Command due to security lapses associated with the Pahalgam attack. However, Lieutenant General Kumar retired honorably on April 30, 2025, after nearly four decades of commendable service. The transition was announced well ahead of time,” he said.

The official also mentioned that a group of accounts originating from Pakistan claimed that Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar, was “dismissed” for “refusing to engage in a conflict” with Pakistan.

“Air Marshal Dharkar concluded his full tenure and retired on April 30, 2025, receiving a ceremonial guard of honor and paying tribute at the National War Memorial. Air Marshal Tiwari has since assumed the role of Vice Chief of the Air Staff as part of an orderly transition. These fabrications reveal a discernible pattern. Each false narrative emerged shortly after New Delhi's strategic diplomatic and military communications following the Pahalgam incident,” he stated.

The official further noted that senior commanders overseeing intelligence, Northern theatre operations, and air power deployment were specifically targeted to create doubts about India’s readiness, adding that the stories were disseminated by a network of known ISI-affiliated social media accounts that have previously propagated disinformation regarding Balakot, surgical strikes, and Rafale capabilities.

“The Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence, and independent media outlets issued clarifications promptly, ensuring that misinformation did not gain traction domestically. The Indian government has restricted access to several Pakistan-origin channels and accounts that disseminated doctored content, following India’s Information Technology Rules 2021,” he stated.

He asserted that the Indian Armed Forces remain fully operational, with senior leadership transitions occurring seamlessly in accordance with established protocols.

“Pakistan’s recent disinformation campaign underscores its desperation in light of India’s measured yet firm stance against cross-border terrorism. The Indian Armed Forces - rooted in transparency, professional integrity, and constitutional oversight - will remain undeterred by propaganda,” the official concluded.