A day after India’s successful precision strikes under Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan's internal narrative appears increasingly strained.

In an interview with CNN, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made a bizarre assertion that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down five Indian fighter jets — a claim he attempted to support with what he described as “evidence from social media”.

When pressed by the anchor for concrete proof, Asif said, “It’s all over the social media, on Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell into Kashmir. And it’s all over Indian media today and they have admitted.” The anchor quickly rebutted the claim, saying, “I’m sorry, we didn’t ask you here to talk about social media content.”

Asif was unable to provide details about what kind of aircraft had allegedly been downed or which Pakistani systems were used to intercept the jets. When asked whether Chinese equipment was used, Asif replied evasively, stating that Pakistan operates Chinese aircraft such as the JF-17 and JF-10, which are assembled domestically. He further attempted to justify the use of foreign defence equipment by drawing comparisons with India’s Rafale jets procured from France.

This isn’t the first time Asif has stirred controversy. In a viral interview from April, he openly admitted to Pakistan’s long-standing involvement in supporting terrorist organisations.

Speaking to Sky News’s Yalda Hakim, Asif said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades… and the West, including Britain. That was a mistake, and we suffered for that.” His admission has been widely seen as confirmation of Pakistan’s deep-rooted support for militant groups over the years.

India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of Wednesday morning in retaliation for the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, saw coordinated strikes by the Indian Armed Forces on nine terror-linked sites, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) stronghold in Muridke. According to Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, the operation was meticulously planned to ensure zero civilian casualties, with all targets chosen based on actionable intelligence.

Following the strikes, Pakistan acknowledged the damage inflicted but quickly shifted focus to an unverified narrative — claiming they had downed five Indian fighter jets. These assertions, however, quickly unravelled.

India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check team debunked multiple false claims circulating on Pakistani social media platforms. One widely shared image purporting to show a downed Indian Rafale was confirmed to be from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab — entirely unrelated to the current operation.

Another piece of fabricated content included a video alleging that Indian forces raised a white flag and surrendered at Chora Post. The video, lacking any credible source, was publicly endorsed by Pakistan’s Minister Attaullah Tarar, further fuelling Islamabad’s misinformation campaign.