When the truth is lost in the midst of conflict, propaganda soon replaces it. The latest story about the alleged capture of an Indian Air Force pilot during Operation Sindoor exemplifies how misinformation spreads in today's internet ecosystem.

Within hours of cross-border air operations being reported, social media platforms were inundated with reports that a Rafale fighter plane had been shot down near Sialkot and its pilot, a female officer, had been captured alive. The identity of India's first female Rafale pilot, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, was quickly linked to these claims, giving them a strong emotional appeal.

The claim spread astonishingly quickly. Anonymous social media handles, partisan web pages, and multiple unverified blogs all repeated the story, adding phony graphics and created elements to make it appear genuine. Screenshots of bogus news alerts were extensively distributed. Old photographs of unrelated aircraft wreckage were used as proof. The myth spread because it combined attention-grabbing factors such as national rivalry, gender symbolism, and the grandeur of India's most modern fighter plane. People wanted to believe the story, which could be interpreted as either a victory or a tragedy depending on their point of view.

Government Responses Tardy

For several days, the two governments were silent. The quiet allowed falsehoods to grow. It wasn't until May 14 that Pakistan's Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, openly addressed the situation. Speaking at a press conference, he claimed unequivocally that Pakistan had no Indian pilots in custody. He described the claims of a captive female pilot as "social media chatter and fake news." This direct and unmistakable denial from Pakistan's own military spokesperson basically put an end to the conjecture from an official perspective. 

Around the same time, India's Press Information Bureau published a fact-check, condemning the floating claims as bogus propaganda. It confirmed that all Indian Air Force pilots were safe, and that no Rafale aircraft were lost in the exercise. Dassault Aviation, the French Rafale maker, also stated that none of its aircraft used by the Indian Air Force had been downed.

By the time these declarations were published, the harm had been done. The matter had dominated digital communications for days, influencing public opinion and eliciting emotional reactions. Many of those who had received the misinformation were unlikely to see or believe the revisions. The latency between rumor and response is one of the modern information environment's distinguishing qualities. Falsehoods spread faster, further, and more effectively than official pronouncements because they are motivated by emotion rather than verification.

Media Sets The Agenda

To understand why the bogus claim acquired traction, consider Agenda-Setting Theory, a fundamental concept in media studies created by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw. The concept believes that the media does not instruct individuals what to think, but it does impact what they think about. In this situation, social media platforms set the agenda by making the "captured Rafale pilot" narrative the most popular topic of conversation. Even when it was disproven, the story had affected public perception of the operation and influenced foreign discussion. Misinformation, by establishing the agenda, shifted public focus away from proven events and toward a completely fabricated one.

Another important concept stems from Marshall McLuhan's thesis that "the medium is the message." The nature of social media, with its speed, virality, and emotional design, offers misinformation an inherent advantage over factual reporting. A fraudulent assertion made thousands of times online gains a sense of collective authenticity. In crisis circumstances, where national passions are already high, internet platforms serve as psychological weapons. Misinformation spreaders do not need to prove their statements. They only need to dominate the debate for a short time, knowing that the official truth will take longer to arrive.

Texbook Example Of Disinformation

The episode took a decisive turn when President Droupadi Murmu traveled in a Rafale fighter jet and was pictured at Ambala Air Force Base alongside Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh. The sight of the President Murmu standing alongside the pilot who had been wrongly reported as captured served as a subtle but forceful reply. It revealed that, while truth is often delayed, it nevertheless has the power to cut through misinformation when given clearly and authoritatively.

The story of the alleged captured Rafale pilot is not a case of miscommunication. This is a textbook example of disinformation. It demonstrates how false narratives can be created, promoted, and weaponized in an age where information itself is a weapon of war. The lesson from this experience is plain. In this age of immediate communication, digital literacy and skepticism are critical civic virtues. The general population must learn to pause, question, and check before reacting. Governments and organizations must move quickly to confront falsehoods with transparency and proof.

The bogus capture of Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is more than just a passing tale. It serves as a reminder that in the digital age, truth requires defenders who are as watchful as those who guard the country's borders.

(The author is a political analyst and columnist with a deep interest in South Asian geopolitics, international diplomacy and policy reform. He graduated from King's College London with a focus in global governance and is passionate about narrowing the disparity among academia and policy making.  Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at aaravsharmaa245@gmail.com)