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First Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
From damage to aircraft to denying capturing Indian pilot: Is Pakistan accepting defeat to India?
Pakistan has admitted 'slight' damage to its aircraft from Indian strikes and said that no Indian pilot was in its custody. This comes after the Indian military spoke of downing a 'few planes'. India's attacks also caused damage to a runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab, rendering it non-operational for a week read more Air Marshal AK Bharti, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Vice Admiral AN Pramod and Major General SS Sharda attend a press briefing at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, India, May 11, 2025. Reuters The fragile truce between India and Pakistan is holding. No hostilities were reported last night (May 12) along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB), the Indian Army said today. After four days of military clashes, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on Saturday (May 10). However, within hours, Islamabad violated the understanding between the two nations. While the United States has tried to take credit for the ceasefire, India has maintained that there was no third-party involvement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As military tensions ebb, Pakistan has begun admitting the setbacks caused by Indian strikes. Here's how. No Indian pilot captured by Pakistan Pakistan has accepted that no Indian pilot was in its custody amid the military tensions last week. Addressing a press conference along with officials of the air force and navy on Sunday, Pakistan Army spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan did not have any Indian pilot in custody, saying such reports were based on 'fake social media reports'. His dismissal came after several pro-Pakistan social media handles claimed that an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, was captured by Pakistan. This claim was debunked by PIB Fact Check on Saturday, which termed it 'fake'. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 The IAF also confirmed yesterday that all its pilots involved in 'Operation Sindoor' were safe. During a press briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti said, '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.' Pakistan admits damage to its aircraft In its briefing on Sunday on 'Operation Bunyanum Marsoos', Pakistan's counter mission to India's military strikes, the country's military admitted that at least one of its aircraft suffered 'minor damage' during skirmishes with India. Lt Gen Chaudhry said that 'only one aircraft' of Pakistan suffered 'slight' damage during Indian missile strikes, without providing further details. On Sunday evening, India said it downed a few Pakistani fighter jets. 'Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border. We have downed a few planes. Definitely, there are losses on their side which we have inflicted," Air Marshal AK Bharti said in a press briefing on Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PAF pilot 'killed' A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot died during the recent military escalation with India. Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, along with four other PAF personnel, were killed at Bholari airbase in Sindh when India hit Pakistan's military targets early Saturday, as per a Times of India (TOI) report. The base houses Pakistan's F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets, crucial for its southern air operations. Pakistani media Dawn reported that 31 'people' died after India's May 7 strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. However, India has said over 100 terrorists were killed during its attack on nine terror camps, including the headquarters of Masood Azhar's terrorist outfit in Bahawalpur, in Pakistan and PoK. 'Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Bahawalpur (Pakistan) was hit the hardest, most potent weapon was used. Jaish-e-Mohammed was created by ISI [Pakistan's spy agency]. It was an important message by India,' sources told ANI. Rahim Yar Khan airbase became unoperational The Indian Armed Forces carried out 'precision attacks' on several of Pakistan's military targets early Saturday after Islamabad launched attacks at 26 locations along the IB and the LoC. India targeted six Pakistani airbases, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian. Hours after the strikes, US President Donald Trump took to social media to announce a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. This was later confirmed by both countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After India's action, the sole runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab was declared non-operational for a week, Indian Express reported, citing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) Saturday evening. As per the notice, the runway has been shut due to work in progress from 4 pm Pakistan time (4:30 pm IST) on May 10 till 4:59 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on May 18. The NOTAM said the runway will not be available for flight operations. In a briefing on Operation Sindoor on Sunday, the Indian Air Force shared satellite imagery to confirm the damage to the runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase by Indian strikes. As per TOI, the missile has left a huge crater on a portion of the runway. Pakistani officials have also reportedly confirmed damage to transport aircraft at Nur Khan and technical facilities at Chunian air bases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
News18
11-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Backpedals On IAF Pilot Custody Claim After India's Hard-Hitting Briefing
Last Updated: 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۔۔۔!!! — 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. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 12, 2025, 01:17 IST
India.com
11-05-2025
- India.com
Meet Shivangi Singh, India's first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet, she was falsely claimed to...
Meet Shivangi Singh, India's first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet, she was falsely claimed to... Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, social media platforms have seen a surge in misinformation and fabricated reports, contributing to public anxiety and uncertainty. One widely circulated falsehood on Saturday allegedly claimed that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh of the Indian Air Force had been captured by Pakistani forces. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has refuted that an Indian Female Air Force pilot has been captured.'Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. PIBFactCheck. This claim is FAKE,' PIB fact check stated. The false claim quickly went viral across several social media platforms, alleging that Singh was detained near Sialkot following the downing of her fighter jet. To support the hoax, several internet users shared an unrelated video, misleadingly portraying it as footage of her alleged capture. Later, the government's fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check, debunked this claim. But who is Shivangi Singh? Hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. Shivangi Singh's journey began with a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. 'That's where my adventure started,' she recalled. Standing amid the aircraft displays, she was awestruck by the fighter jets — a moment that sparked a silent but firm resolve: she would one day become a pilot. Shivangi Singh began chasing her childhood dream during her college years at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). She joined the NCC Air Wing, where her love for flying only grew stronger. With dedication, good grades, and a clear goal in mind, she earned a spot at the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad — where she trained hard to become a fighter pilot. As reported by The First Post, Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017, becoming part of the second group of women ever inducted as fighter pilots. This marked a major breakthrough, especially since the IAF had taken over two decades to begin allowing women in combat flying positions. In 2023, the Indian Air Force reported over 1,600 women officers, including numerous fighter pilots. Singh admitted feeling nervous the first time she stepped into the cockpit. The first time Singh flew a MiG-21 fighter jet, she truly grasped the level of precision and skill required to handle such a powerful machine. In 2020, following a rigorous selection process, she was chosen for advanced training on the Rafale — a prestigious programme that included simulator drills and sessions with French trainers. Shivangi Singh has the distinction of having been chosen as the first female fighter pilot on the Rafale aircraft. Rafale came into the defence forces in 2020 from France and is considered to be the most potent fighter aircraft in the entire Asian region in its class. As per news agency 2023 report, Singh represented the Indian Air Force in the French exercise Orion in France where Air forces of many other major Air Forces including the US, UK, and France along with various other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. Singh, who hails from Varanasi, was flying MiG-21 Bison before being inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF. She joined the force in 2017.
India Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
This is how Pakistan targeted India on the internet
With the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, let's look at some of the key items in Pakistan's disinformation campaign in the run-up to the dtente. The campaign provides an insight into what might have been on Pakistan's agenda against India amid its slew of unsuccessful air raids.1. Sowing discordPakistan-based accounts attempted to cause infighting in India through their disinformation campaign. They shared a video of many people gathered on a farm, and claimed that Sikhs in India had turned against the Indian Army in The video, however, predates the recent India-Pakistan military escalations that began with India's Operation Sindoor on May 7. Of course, India's covert operation was in retaliation against the April 22 Pahalgam terror video actually shows a clash between the police and protesters over a biogas plant in Ludhiana's Akhara village on April 26. According to The Times of India, on April 26, the police resorted to lathi-charging protestors opposing the setting up of a biogas plant in Akhara. Villagers had reportedly been protesting it for over a year, citing health concerns.2. Fabricating hostagesPakistan-based accounts overwhelmingly spread lies about an Indian Air Force pilot called Shivangi Singh getting captured across the course, that's untrue. For starters, the Press Information Bureau, while referring to a separate video shared with the claim, refuted this outright. It said that an Indian female Air Force pilot 'has NOT been captured'.Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been capturedPro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheckThis claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025advertisementSecond, the photo shared with the claim is also old. In June 2023, an IAF training jet crashed in Chamarajanagar near Karnataka's Bhogapura village. According to The Hindu, on June 1, 2023, an Indian Air Force trainer aircraft, Kiran, crashed — but not before both its pilots ejected safely. The pilots were identified by the local police as Tejpal and Bhumika. They both sustained some injuries and were taken to Bengaluru for treatment.3. Fake wins — in video games'Even Bollywood can't deliver such action that the Pakistan Air Force did in real life to India,' wrote Pakistan-based accounts, as they shared a video of a fighter jet doing some rather impressive video does feel like an action film sequence. Because it's most likely from a video game. Clips from the combat simulator ARMA 3 are often mistaken for real incidents — something we have seen in wars, time and video also predates Operation Sindoor and the subsequent skirmishes between India and Pakistan. It was shared by a YouTube account on April 30.
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First Post
10-05-2025
- First Post
Who is IAF's Shivangi Singh, who was falsely claimed to have been captured by Pakistan?
A PIB fact check earlier debunked a viral claim doing the rounds on social media that an Indian Air Force pilot, Shivangi Singh, has been captured by Pakistani forces as her fighter jet was shot down. Singh is India's first female Rafale fighter pilot. Here's what we know about her read more Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh holds the historic distinction of being India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. AFP As tensions between escalate, social media has been flooded with fake news and viral misinformation, fuelling confusion and fear among citizens. One such false claim that gained traction on Saturday alleged that Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, had been captured by Pakistani forces. The rumour, which spread rapidly across multiple platforms, falsely stated that Singh was arrested near Sialkot after her fighter jet was shot down. Some users even circulated an unrelated video in an attempt to show her supposed capture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the government's fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check , swiftly debunked the viral claim. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 The agency also urged citizens to be vigilant, avoid forwarding such unverified content and rely only on official updates. But who is IAF pilot Shivangi Singh? Why was her name caught in the fake news mess? Here's a closer look. Becoming India's first female Rafale fighter pilot Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh holds the historic distinction of being India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. She is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab. Her dream of flying began in childhood. A visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi with her parents left a lasting impression. She once recalled how she 'gawked' at the aircraft and 'immediately knew that [she] wanted to become a pilot.' Hailing from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Singh took her first steps towards that dream by joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Air Wing during her graduation at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). With a strong academic record and unwavering passion, she then made it to the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, where she underwent rigorous training to become a fighter pilot. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab. AFP Singh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2017, as part of the IAF's second-ever batch of women fighter pilots — a milestone in itself, given that it took the force over two decades to induct women into combat flying roles. By 2023, official figures showed that over 1,600 women officers were serving in the Indian Air Force, including many pilots. 'There have been many of us,' Singh told AFP. 'This not only reflects modernisation (of our society) but also the fact that we can now realise our dreams.' Flying Rafale and guarding the borders The first time Singh took the controls of a fighter jet, a MiG-21, was when she 'realised how much skill it takes to control' to fly. In 2020, after clearing a competitive evaluation, she was chosen for Rafale training, an advanced programme that involved simulator sessions with French instructors. 'I learned something new every step of the way, be it flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft or the Rafale fighter aircraft,' she told India Today. Her training focused on mastering the Rafale's high-tech systems, including its Thales RBE2 AESA radar and precision weaponry. This prepared her for complex missions, including those under Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shivangi Singh has represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF. File image/ Reuters Singh has since flown missions in sensitive regions like eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where her skills and the Rafale's capabilities were put to the test amid tensions with China. She even represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF. Aiming for space Singh was among the first to try the new Rafale jets. But her dreams are even bigger. 'I succeeded in a field that was long reserved for men, and if I succeeded, then women can now work in any sector,' she said. 'I want to be an astronaut,' she told AFP. 'So let's hope.' With input from agencies
