Fact Check: Did Pakistan Really Attack 32 Indian Airbases During Operation Sindoor?

Claim: Pakistan claimed that it attacked 32 Indian airbases, jammed Indian military satellites, disrupted India’s power grid and fuel supplies, and shot down eight Indian Air Force aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

Verdict: False and Misleading

What is the claim?

Pakistan has circulated a series of claims about the outcome of Operation Sindoor, including that its forces successfully attacked 32 Indian airbases, jammed Indian military satellites, disrupted India’s power grid and destroyed Indian S-400 air-defence systems. The claims have also been accompanied by AI-generated videos and animations portraying events that did not occur.

Claim of attacks on 32 Indian airbases

Pakistan claimed that it had attacked 32 Indian airbases. However, the evidence cited in the report indicates that only four Indian airbases suffered minimal damage. India itself acknowledged damage at four airbases, a figure vastly different from Pakistan’s claim of 32. The distinction is significant: evidence of limited damage at four locations does not support the much broader assertion that 32 Indian airbases were successfully attacked.

Claim that Indian military satellites were jammed

Pakistan also claimed that it had managed to jam Indian military satellites. The report found no evidence supporting this claim.

Claim of attacks on India’s power grid

Another Pakistani claim alleged that India’s power grid had been hacked and disrupted in an attempt to interfere with Indian military operations. According to the report, no such disruption occurred. India’s power supply remained unaffected during the period in question.

Claim of shooting down eight Indian aircraft

Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that it shot down eight Indian Air Force aircraft, although the number has reportedly varied in Pakistani accounts from as low as one to as high as 30. The Indian Air Force has acknowledged that it suffered losses during the operation but has not publicly specified the number of aircraft lost. Therefore, the specific Pakistani claim of eight aircraft being shot down is not established by the available evidence cited in the report.

Claim that S-400 systems were destroyed

Pakistan also claimed that it destroyed two surface-to-air missile systems belonging to India’s S-400 class. The report states that independent research conducted for a book on Operation Sindoor found no S-400 unit was destroyed or disabled.

Claim of fuel-supply disruption

Pakistan further claimed that it had disrupted fuel supplies in India. Vishnu Som, who researched and wrote about Operation Sindoor, said he had not heard of such disruption and described the claim as unsupported. He said daily life and fuel supplies continued normally, although tensions were high during the conflict.

The role of AI-generated content

A central element of the misinformation campaign was the use of AI-generated videos and animations. The material was used to reinforce claims that were not supported by evidence. The presence of an apparently realistic video, therefore, does not by itself establish that the event depicted actually happened. Claims involving battlefield damage, aircraft losses or military operations require independent corroboration.

What does the evidence show?

The available evidence cited in the report establishes a much narrower picture:

• Four Indian airbases suffered damage, rather than the claimed 32.
• There is no evidence cited for Pakistan successfully jamming Indian military satellites.
• India’s power supply remained unaffected, contradicting the claim of a successful power-grid disruption.
• India acknowledged aircraft losses but did not confirm the Pakistani figure of eight.
• The report says no Indian S-400 unit was destroyed or disabled.
• Claims of widespread fuel-supply disruption are likewise not supported by the evidence presented.

Conclusion By Factcheck India

Pakistan’s claims about Operation Sindoor significantly overstate the extent of damage inflicted on India. While the report acknowledges that some Indian airbases were damaged and that the Indian Air Force suffered losses, the evidence does not substantiate claims of 32 airbases being attacked, eight aircraft being shot down, S-400 systems being destroyed, satellites being jammed, or India’s power and fuel supplies being disrupted. The circulation of AI-generated videos and animations appears to have added a layer of visual credibility to claims that lack corresponding evidence. Some real damage and aircraft losses occurred, but the specific figures and additional claims promoted through the alleged AI-generated material are either unsupported or contradicted by the available evidence.