Following the recent Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has launched a disinformation campaign, pushing the narrative that it inflicted significant damage on Indian military installations. However, independent satellite imagery analyst Damien Symon has thoroughly debunked these claims, exposing doctored visuals and misrepresented data shared by Islamabad.
One significant allegation was the claimed destruction of a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet at Punjab’s Adampur Airbase. Images circulated online depicted what appeared to be a burned aircraft, suggesting a direct missile hit. But upon closer inspection, Symon clarified that the jet shown was actually a MiG-29 undergoing maintenance, and the dark markings identified as blast damage were nothing more than engine soot from routine testing. Even more tellingly, the image in question was taken before hostilities began, discrediting its use as evidence.
A comparable incident occurred at the Bhuj Airbase in Gujarat, where Pakistan asserted it had successfully struck and destroyed an S-400 air defense system. The satellite image used to back this allegation showed dark patches on the ground—allegedly impact marks. But Symon’s analysis revealed that these were oil stains in a vehicle servicing area, again from a timeframe well before the conflict.
Pakistan didn’t stop there. A separate image claimed damage to another S-400 battery at Adampur, showing several black spots that resembled bomb craters. But forensic comparison with current, unedited satellite images proved that these spots were digitally added, making the image manipulated and completely fake.
These revelations have severely undermined Pakistan’s credibility in the international arena, especially regarding its performance during Operation Sindoor. By relying on outdated or altered images, and spreading falsehoods about successful strikes, Pakistan has attempted to craft a narrative of dominance—one that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
As India continues to strengthen its defence capabilities and global partnerships, such propaganda efforts by Islamabad are increasingly being exposed and dismantled by independent verification tools, reinforcing the importance of transparent intelligence analysis.
