The Pakistan Air Force has drawn global criticism and ridicule after sharing a propaganda video that was quickly flagged and fact-checked by platform X (formerly Twitter) for using doctored and misleading content. The footage, which was intended to showcase military strength, was found to include visuals from SpaceX launches, video games like Call of Duty, and foreign military footage including Turkish drone operations and Russian S-300 systems.
The video was published on the official handle of the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of the Pakistan Air Force. It included dramatic visuals accompanied by a declaration of “unwavering commitment to national sovereignty and defence excellence.” However, viewers and independent fact-checkers on X quickly identified the origins of the clips and called out the deception.
The incident has sparked embarrassment for Pakistan on the international stage, with many online users criticizing the attempt to pass off borrowed footage as evidence of homegrown military capability. It has also reignited concerns about the use of misinformation and doctored media in state propaganda.
The timing of the video release adds to its controversial nature. It came just days after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where a group of militants targeted a group of Hindu tourists, killing multiple civilians in front of their families. The attack has shocked India and drawn widespread condemnation, with survivors reporting that the attackers demanded they deliver a message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Indian authorities have pointed to Pakistan as the likely source of support for the attackers, describing the incident as a calculated effort to derail peace and incite fear along religious lines. The brutality of the killings, in which victims were allegedly forced to recite religious verses before being executed, has further inflamed tensions.
In the wake of the attack, Pakistan has sought diplomatic support from its allies, but international sentiment appears to be leaning toward India. Nations around the world have expressed solidarity with the victims and have called for accountability for the perpetrators and their backers.
As scrutiny mounts and pressure increases, the Pakistan Air Force’s attempt to project strength using recycled and fictional visuals has backfired, deepening the country’s reputational challenges at a moment of heightened regional tension.
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