Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif found himself in an awkward situation during a live interview, spreading misinformation regarding India following Pakistan’s recent “Sindoor Operation,” which targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
While speaking with CNN, Asif claimed that Pakistan would be able to shoot down Indian fighter jets during the operation. When pressed for proof, he seemed unprepared.
“It’s not just on social media; jet fragments have indeed fallen in Kashmir,” he asserted. However, the CNN anchor Becky Anderson quickly redirected the conversation, saying, “I didn’t ask about social media content. Were Chinese weapons used to shoot down these Rafale jets, as you say?”
Some viewers on social media reacted, calling Asif’s claims baseless and his performance disappointing.
Struggling to identify the aircraft Pakistan supposedly used, Asif tried to shift the dialogue, suggesting that this situation could lead to a broader conflict.
He acknowledged that they possess “Chinese planes, which are now being manufactured in Islamabad,” but provided little more clarity.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time Asif has made headlines in a negative light. Just last month, in an interview with Sky News, he admitted that Pakistan has supported terrorist organizations in the past.
“We’ve been doing this dirty work for the US for about 30 years… that’s a mistake we paid for,” he stated, confirming longstanding allegations against Pakistan regarding terrorism.
PIB Fact Checks Misleading Claims
Following the Indian operation, various pro-Pakistan social media accounts began sharing misleading images, claiming they depicted the downing of Indian jets. The Indian Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking team quickly debunked these claims, identifying one widely circulated image as outdated and from a separate incident in 2021.
“#PibFactCheck: This image is from a previous incident and is unrelated to the current situation,” they noted on social media.
