Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has forcefully dismissed India’s assertion that it had employed a Shaheen missile in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. In a release on Monday, the Foreign Office described the allegation as “entirely unsubstantiated” and accused India of spreading misinformation during recent military tensions.
The allegation came from a since-deleted tweet by the official X handle of the Indian Army, which had posted a video purportedly showing Pakistan test-firing a Shaheen missile. Within hours, the tweet was deleted without comment, but not before Indian media had spread it far and wide.
Islamabad Pushes Back
“Pakistan categorically rejects the deployment of any Shaheen missile,” read the Foreign Office statement, referencing official military records. The May 12 ISPR press release corroborated that Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos utilised Fatah-series missiles, precision drones, and long-range artillery—but no Shaheen.
The Foreign Office denounced the Indian Army for providing “neither clarification nor retraction” after removing the video, describing the silence as “unprofessional and deliberate.”
Strategic Distraction?
Analysts in Islamabad believe the misinformation serves a deeper purpose: to mask India’s losses during Operation Sindoor. “This false claim is part of New Delhi’s broader attempt to rewrite the narrative,” one analyst said, referring to allegations of “nuclear blackmail” and fabricated threats.
The FO added that such misinformation “undermines regional stability” and erodes trust in diplomatic processes.
Rising Tensions
The missile misinformation follows a perilous escalation that started on April 22 with the attack at Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. India blamed Pakistan right away, causing a rapid deterioration of diplomatic relations. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down border crossings, cancelled visas, and recalled diplomats.
Tensions boiled over on May 7 as Indian missile attacks killed dozens in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan reacted forcefully, downing three Rafale aircraft and launching Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos on May 10, destroying key Indian military infrastructure.
A Fragile Ceasefire
Later that day, U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated a ceasefire. Within minutes, the two sides confirmed the deal. But with false information continuing to emerge and confidence dwindling, peace is far from assured.
As a diplomat said: “Truth is the first casualty of war. But accountability must be the first step to peace.”
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