Military Blasts India’s Election-Era Propaganda
The Pakistan military (ISPR) has sharply criticised India’s military leadership for reviving what it called “delusional, fabricated, and provocative” claims just months after the May conflict. According to the ISPR, India is once again using hostile rhetoric to influence domestic opinion ahead of the Bihar and West Bengal elections.
It is alleged that Indian leaders often adopt such tactics to divert public attention from growing internal challenges, including economic distress and rising communal tensions. By amplifying anti-Pakistan narratives, the statement said, the Indian government seeks to project strength and rally nationalist sentiment.
The ISPR emphasised that such political exploitation of security matters threatens peace in South Asia. “Turning foreign policy into an election slogan endangers regional stability,” it added, urging India to avoid militarising its political discourse.
“Laughing Stock” and “Bollywood-Style Scripts”
The ISPR accused India’s top brass of attempting to rewrite history through “Bollywood-style” storylines. It said these “outlandish narratives” aim to glorify fabricated victories while hiding the failures of Indian operations during the May conflict.
Furthermore, the ISPR said that repeated lies and theatrical narratives have “turned the Indian military machine into a laughing stock before the world.” It argued that credible military institutions focus on professionalism and strategy, not on political theatre.
To strengthen its claim, the ISPR pointed to inconsistencies in Indian statements following the May confrontation, where different officials offered contradictory accounts of operations, casualties, and outcomes. These contradictions, the ISPR noted, erode India’s credibility on global platforms.
May Conflict Retold and Disputed
The ISPR recalled that the May clashes erupted after an attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir. India quickly blamed Pakistan for the incident, an accusation Islamabad firmly denied. In retaliation, India launched limited airstrikes on targets in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, calling them “surgical strikes.”
Pakistan, however, countered those claims by releasing radar data, recovered wreckage, and footage showing the downing of multiple Indian aircraft. Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes on Indian military installations, the ISPR said, demonstrated “measured precision and professional discipline.”
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire eventually prevented escalation into a full-scale conflict. Analysts later described the episode as a failure of deterrence diplomacy, with both nations realising the high cost of brinkmanship. The ISPR reiterated that Pakistan’s response during the conflict had been defensive and proportionate.
Indian Claims Under Attack
Recently, Indian DGMO Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai claimed that India’s Navy was fully prepared under “Operation Sindoor” and that any Pakistani counter-action would have been catastrophic. He also alleged that Pakistan lost more than 100 soldiers and that its airbases sustained heavy damage.
In response, the ISPR dismissed these claims as “blatant contradictions not worthy of a reply.” It argued that India’s narrative had shifted several times since May, proof that it lacked both evidence and coherence.
The ISPR asserted that such fabrications reflect India’s inability to accept defeat in Marka-e-Haq, a battle Pakistan described as “decisive and humiliating” for Indian forces. Moreover, it suggested that Indian political and military leaders are trying to manipulate the narrative for electoral gains.
Analysts note that India’s pattern of heightening cross-border rhetoric before state elections is well-established. The ISPR’s statement, therefore, fits within a broader regional dynamic where propaganda often replaces diplomacy.
A Warning and Pledge
In its concluding remarks, the ISPR cautioned that unchecked jingoism could destabilise an already fragile South Asian security environment. It stressed the importance of restraint, dialogue, and confidence-building measures to prevent future escalation.
At the same time, the military reaffirmed that Pakistan’s people and armed forces remain fully capable of defending every inch of the country’s territory. The ISPR warned that any act of aggression would be met with a “swift, resolute, and intense response”, a message aimed at deterring miscalculation in New Delhi.
The statement concluded by reminding India that peace cannot coexist with provocation. “Responsible nations build bridges, not false narratives,” the ISPR said, adding that Pakistan remains committed to regional stability but will not compromise its sovereignty or security.
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