How Operation Sindoor Uncovered a New Era of Information Warfare

While the guns fell silent following India's aggressive military action under Operation Sindoor — the third publicly announced strike against Pakistan after Balakot and Uri — another, more insidious conflict was being waged across screens and social media timelines. Along with the gunfire on the border, a digital war broke out, characterized by deepfake audio, manipulated videos, and a torrent of disinformation aimed at framing global opinion and shaking public confidence.

The Rise of Deepfake and AI-Generated Content

Perhaps the most dramatic trend in this wave of disinformation was the alleged use of deepfake technology. Audio recordings, purportedly of Indian military leaders "accepting defeat," spread quickly online. Although these recordings remain unverified, experts say that generative AI is now driving a new and sinister front of war — the psychological battlefront. The employment of synthetic, hyper-realistic content has increased the difficulty of separating fact from fiction, potentially eroding military credibility and provoking public outrage.

Lesson: We are on the cusp of an age where information warfare is no longer merely about words — it's about persuasively fake visuals and audio. This requires increased media literacy not only among citizens but also among journalists, policymakers, and military organizations.

The Genesis of the Disinformation Campaign

Nearly as quickly as Indian strikes started, Pakistani state media and social media channels went into action. Among their assertions: Indian warplanes, including the advanced Rafale, were downed; Indian bases such as Srinagar Airbase were heavily attacked; and Indian troops had incurred "colossal" losses.

Along with these allegations were so-called proofs — photographs and videos posted online that soon went viral. But Indian fact-checking organizations such as the Press Information Bureau (PIB) soon refuted many of them. For instance:

• Reused media: A pre-existing video of a MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan (2024) was used as proof of a new Indian loss.
• Doctored video: Unrelated violence footage in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region was presented as alleged attacks on Indian military installations.
• Official echo chambers: Quotes by Pakistani officials such as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif added an insubstantial layer of believability to these assertions, reinforcing the same.

The Digital Battlefield: Real Frontline, Virtual Ammunition

What Operation Sindoor forcefully illustrates is that the frontline is no longer merely at the Line of Control or border outposts. It cuts across Twitter timelines, WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and YouTube livestreams. In the geopolitics of the day, information — or rather disinformation — is a powerful weapon.

This is not just about deceiving the public; it's a calculated psyop (PSYOP) with the intent to demoralize the adversary, confuse international viewers, and mobilize domestic support. Disinformation also has the goal of:

• Damaging India's military credibility
• Stirring domestic political discussion
• Shaping global diplomatic opinions

India's Countermeasures: Countering With Facts

Having seen the danger, India quickly countered the cyber attack.

• PIB fact-checking: The government's fact-checking department put out quick denials, usually within hours, to debunk false assertions and put things right.
• International media alertness: Channels such as India Today, The Times of India, and some international agencies picked up on the campaign of misinformation, pointing out its calculated approach and effect.

But such efforts also highlight a disheartening reality: in the era of information, debunking a falsehood simply may not suffice. By the time fact-checks materialize, the hoax has often succeeded in inflicting damage.

Why Media Literacy Is Now a National Security Imperative

As ex-NSG commando Brigadier Govind Singh Sisodia put it so bluntly in a recent interview: "We are no more concerned about bread over ammunition." Today, though, the ammunition is not missiles or bullets; it's viral tweets, trending hashtags, and doctored videos.

The public needs to become its own first line of defense. Citizens, journalists, and policymakers alike need to:

• Challenge sensational assertions, particularly from unofficial or hostile sources.
• Depend on established news sources and double-check pivotal updates.
• Be sensitive to symptoms of deepfake manipulation, such as conflicting video/audio signals.
• Since truth is the first casualty of war, its protection involves communal attentiveness.

From AI-based deepfakes to coordinated disinformation operations, the character of war is being remade before our very eyes. While cannonballs can kill on the battlefield, disinformation can undermine trust in institutions, spread fear, and break up national cohesion far beyond the war zone.

India's armed forces and intelligence agencies have certainly adjusted to the kinetic demands along the border. But the cyber space calls for a whole-of-society approach — where educated citizens, nimble institutions, and strong media ecosystems all combine to become the bulwark against information and psychological assaults.

As global tensions escalate, the world needs to prepare not only for newer, more sophisticated weapons, but also for more sophisticated falsehoods.