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Social media erupts after Indian media falsely claims destruction of Pakistan’s Karachi Port

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In what appears to be a major disinformation campaign, several major Indian media outlets are claiming to have damaged or destroyed the Port of Karachi and other Pakistani targets, airing video evidence that many have proven to be fabricated.

Throughout Thursday night, a multitude of Indian news channels with broad local audiences, such as Aaj Tak, India Today, Zee News, and Business Today, among others, broadcast various videos of the supposed attack.

The unverified footage spread quickly online soon after, with many citizens of India celebrating the reported attack. 

Some also drew comparisons to Operation Trident, a 1971 military attack launched by the Indian Navy on Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, leaving the port of Karachi heavily damaged. The INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, played a major role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the war.  

While the official X account of Karachi’s Port Authority first confirmed the allegations, it later issued a statement claiming that India hacked its account. The Port Authority also confirmed that no damage was done to the port.

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Other reports that circulated, later also debunked as fake, floated that Islamabad had been captured by the Indian Navy alongside Pakistan’s chief of army staff, General Asim Munir. Indian media reports also later falsely claimed that Munir had been arrested and that a coup was underway in Pakistan.

Outlets like Outlook India debunked many of the videos circulated by Indian broadcasters. One image that was circulated widely is reportedly from a 2020 BBC report on Gaza, not Karachi.

Several social media users living around the port joined in on the efforts to counteract the false claims, posting pictures and videos of the port and other sites being intact. 

After the reports on the destruction of the port emerged, social media users seemingly debunked the claims as fake news and expressed their anger towards Indian media outlets.  

“We are becoming a global joke,” one social media user posted on X. “There are global observers watching closely and this is the show we put up?! Shameful.”

While many social media users from India are frustrated with India’s claims, others have employed a dose of irony when commenting on the faulty news reports. 

“Indian media and pundits fed their audiences Bollywood level propaganda last night,” one social media user wrote on X. “The world is laughing, Indians are fuming, and Karachi and Lahore remain intact.”

Tensions between India and Pakistan have been at fever pitch since gunmen killed 26 civilians in a famous tourist spot in India-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April.

Soon after, India began launching air strikes on several locations in Pakistan, in what it called a retaliatory action against “terrorists” to avenge the Pahalgam attack. In the ensuing salvos, Pakistan is confirmed to have downed at least one Indian jet, with the Pakistani government claiming they downed five jets. 

Last night, several Indian cities reported blackouts while the Indian government accused Pakistan of unsuccessfully launching attacks on Indian civilian infrastructure in 15 different locations.

Pakistan’s military strongly denied any involvement in these attacks but said it killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers in cross-border fighting.





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