Pakistan Backpedals On IAF Pilot Custody Claim After India's Hard-Hitting Briefing
During the climbdown, Islamabad exposed its own narrative that had been fueling the spread of such falsehoods on social media.
A senior Pakistan Army official walked back the claim that Islamabad had captured an Indian Air Force pilot during the 100-hour military action between the two countries.
This followed the Indian Air Force's confirmation on Sunday that all pilots involved in 'Operation Sindoor' had returned home safely, noting that the Air Force successfully achieved all its objectives during the precision strikes against Pakistan.
'I can confirm that we don't have any (Indian) pilots in custody. This is all part of social media chatter and part of fake news and propaganda generated from multiple sources," said Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
پاکستان کے پاس کوئی بھارتی پائلٹ نہیں، ڈی جی آئی ایس پی آر۔۔۔!!! pic.twitter.com/o3t9pzTtgW — Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) May 11, 2025
During the climbdown, Chaudhry — who has been briefing the world on the India-Pakistan military crisis — exposed its own narrative that had been fueling the spread of such falsehoods on social media.
PIB Fact-Checked 'IAF Pilot' Claim
Earlier on Saturday, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked social media claims that an Indian Air Force pilot named Shivani Singh had been captured by Pakistan.
The PIB's fact-checking unit clarified, saying: 'Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured." It added, 'Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE!"
The agency also dismissed a separate claim suggesting that an Indian pilot had ejected from a fighter aircraft over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling it fake.
Days after PIB's fact-check exposed the false pro-Pakistan narrative, Islamabad today itself acknowledged the misinformation campaign, stating that no Indian pilot was in their custody.
'All Our Pilots Are Back Home'
Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, confirmed that all pilots involved in Operation Sindoor have returned home safely.
'We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat. However, we have achieved all our objectives, and all our pilots are back home," Bharti said.
'We have downed a few Pakistani planes," he added, while declining to reveal the number, citing ongoing technical assessments.
'Pakistani aircraft were prevented from entering Indian airspace, so we don't have wreckage, but we are certain of the hits," he added.
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May 12, 2025, 01:17 IST
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