India Slams Chinese Media Over Operation Sindoor Misreporting | India has sharply rebutted claims made by Chinese Communist Party-run media outlet Global Times, which alleged that three Indian fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan following India’s cross-border precision missile strikes under Operation Sindoor. The Indian Embassy in Beijing called the report a “serious lapse in journalistic responsibility” and urged the publication to verify facts and cross-examine sources before amplifying false narratives.
The Global Times, quoting unnamed Pakistani military sources, claimed that Pakistan had downed three Indian jets during India’s retaliatory strikes on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The report was published just hours after India confirmed it had launched 24 missiles across nine terrorist-linked targets, killing more than 80 terrorists, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including tourists and a Nepali national.
Indian Embassy Issues Sharp Rebuttal
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Embassy in China accused the Global Times of spreading disinformation: “When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics,” the embassy posted.
India clarified that its strikes, conducted jointly by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, did not lead to any Indian aircraft losses and were carefully calibrated to avoid escalation while focusing solely on dismantling terror infrastructure.
Operation Sindoor: Measured, Precise and Responsible
India’s missile strikes targeted camps affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in locations including Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and others. The operation was launched in the early hours of May 7 in retaliation for Pakistan-based groups’ attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
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“These actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible. They focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India,” the embassy added.
Warning Against Disinformation and Propaganda
Indian officials also flagged a wave of misinformation on social media, particularly from pro-Pakistan handles, which were found circulating old images and fabricated narratives to distort the outcome of Operation Sindoor.
“India exercised its sovereign right to respond in a restrained manner after waiting for two weeks for Pakistan to act. No concrete steps were taken to dismantle the infrastructure used to launch the Pahalgam attack,” said a senior official familiar with the operation.
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India has called upon international media outlets and governments to be wary of false claims emerging from Islamabad’s information ecosystem, especially those lacking independent verification.
Global Times Faces Backlash
The Global Times, known for pushing the Chinese government’s foreign policy narratives, has come under scrutiny multiple times for publishing unverified or one-sided accounts, particularly on India-China and India-Pakistan issues. This latest incident has reignited criticism about its credibility and editorial independence.
India’s assertive clarification also signals a broader diplomatic pushback against narratives seeking to undermine its national security interests or downplay the legitimacy of its counter-terrorism actions.
