Several pro-Pakistani social media accounts on Thursday circulated misleading “before” and “after” images claiming to show damage caused by strikes on the Amritsar airbase in Punjab and a BrahMos missile facility in Beas during last year’s hostilities. However, independent analysts and open-source intelligence experts have debunked the claims, showing that the images were either misrepresented or taken out of context.
Experts pointed out that the images being shared did not show any damage from airstrikes. Instead, they depicted routine construction or maintenance activity at the sites. Geo-intelligence analyst Damien Symon clarified that one of the so-called “before” images was taken on May 15, 2025—four days after the India-Pakistan conflict had ended—and was falsely being compared with a later image to suggest destruction. Satellite imagery available publicly shows no signs of structural damage or blast impact at either location.
The misinformation follows a familiar pattern seen since May last year, after India carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. During that operation, Indian forces struck nine terror camps and 11 military airbases across Pakistan. Unlike Pakistan’s claims, India backed its statements with verified satellite imagery showing damage at the targeted sites. In contrast, the images now being circulated by pro-Pakistan handles were found to be unrelated to any military action.
Social media users and defence analysts were quick to mock the claims. Several noted that construction work or camouflage measures were being falsely portrayed as missile damage. Others pointed out that no blast marks or debris were visible in the images, exposing the attempt as another instance of online disinformation. Open-source analysts also highlighted that similar fabricated claims had surfaced earlier but failed to stand up to scrutiny.
The episode comes shortly after Pakistan officially acknowledged, for the first time, that Indian strikes had damaged military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar recently admitted that Indian drones had hit the Nur Khan airbase, contradicting earlier denials. The renewed circulation of fake visuals is being seen as an attempt to revive a narrative that had already been discredited by independent verification.
