Pakistan Rejects Indian Claims as Propaganda: FM Ishaq Dar Highlights Effective Defense in May Conflict

Islamabad - Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has strongly refuted Indian narratives about the brief but intense May 2025 military confrontation, accusing New Delhi of spreading misinformation through fake and AI-generated content while Islamabad presents verifiable evidence of its successes.

In a detailed year-end press briefing on December 27, Dar stated that Pakistan did not initiate or seek any ceasefire during the four-day escalation triggered by India's Operation Sindoor. He described India's early morning strike on the sensitive Nur Khan Air Base on May 10 as a "grave miscalculation" that risked rapid escalation, but emphasized Pakistan's restrained and effective response.

"They (India) sent drones towards Pakistan. In 36 hours, at least 80 drones were launched into our airspace. Our forces intercepted and downed 79 of them, with only one causing minor damage to a military installation and minor injuries to personnel," Dar said, portraying the incident as a decisive Pakistani defensive victory that contained a large-scale Indian incursion.

Dar further claimed that Pakistan's air forces delivered significant blows, downing four Indian Rafale fighter jets and destroying two S-400 air defense systems. He asserted that these achievements have been authenticated by international outlets, including BBC Verify and Reuters, through analysis of heat signatures from missile and aircraft firings - a modern verification method that captures unique thermal patterns from weapon launches and impacts.

"Every armament fired today creates a distinct heat signature, allowing independent verification. Our proofs are solid and have been corroborated by credible global media," Dar stated, contrasting this with what he called "blunt and repeatedly exposed Indian lies," including widespread circulation of AI-generated videos and fabricated imagery by Indian media and official channels.

The minister specifically challenged Indian Air Force propaganda alleging the downing of Pakistani F-16 jets, saying it has been thoroughly disproven by U.S. military assessments. Dar proposed an open, international scrutiny of all downed aircraft wreckage to expose the truth, noting that India has consistently denied such independent verification, which he suggested would reveal the falsity of New Delhi's claims.

Pakistan maintains that the ceasefire was agreed mutually via hotline communication between Directors General of Military Operations, without external mediation requests from Islamabad, though U.S. and Saudi officials facilitated contacts. Dar reiterated that Pakistan exercised maximum restraint throughout, delivering proportionate responses in just four days while India escalated aggressively.

The May conflict stemmed from India's strikes on alleged terror camps following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, which Pakistan denied involvement in. Both sides have traded accusations of losses, with independent reports indicating aircraft shoot-downs and infrastructure damage on both sides, though exact figures remain disputed.

As tensions linger, Dar warned against Indian "war hysteria" and called for dialogue, while affirming Pakistan's readiness to defend its sovereignty. International observers continue to urge de-escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors to prevent future miscalculations.