Fact Check | Fake Telegraph Cover Hailing Pakistan Air Force Debunked by Govt

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th May: The Indian government has firmly debunked a piece of viral disinformation circulating online that falsely claims The Daily Telegraph, a reputed UK newspaper, hailed the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as the “undisputed king of the skies.” The image in question, depicting a fabricated front-page story dated May 10, has been flagged as digitally manipulated or AI-generated, with no such article ever published by the Telegraph.

The government’s official fact-check handle on X clarified Friday that the viral post is fake. It includes altered visuals and false claims timed around heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

An image circulating on social media claims to show the front page of UK-based newspaper The Daily Telegraph, featuring a headline that reads: "Pakistan Air Force: The undisputed king of the skies” dated 10th May 2025#PIBFactCheck

✔️This claim is #false

✔️The image being… pic.twitter.com/8hxskb5aM4

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 16, 2025

Austrian Expert Calls India’s Response a “Clear-Cut Victory”
Contrary to the false portrayal, Austrian military aviation analyst Tom Cooper told NDTV that India’s air superiority and precision strikes led to a decisive outcome. “With at least two HQ-9 systems destroyed and PAF unable to fire PL-15s into Indian airspace, the IAF delivered several heavy blows within hours,” Cooper said.

Pakistan Foreign Minister’s Embarrassing Reference
In a diplomatic embarrassment, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar referenced the fake Telegraph article in the Senate, drawing ridicule from Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, which also debunked the claim. The BJP’s Amit Malviya called it a “blatant attempt to save face,” while Rajeev Chandrasekhar called Dar’s remarks “head scratchingly stupid.”

Series of Fake Claims From Pak Media
This is not the first instance of disinformation. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had falsely claimed that a Rafale fighter jet was shot down—a claim refuted by both India and American journalist Becky Anderson of CNN, who pressed Asif for evidence during a televised interview.

India’s Digital Vigilance Post Operation Sindoor
The Indian government has ramped up its fact-checking efforts following Operation Sindoor, noting a spike in doctored visuals and false narratives from Pakistan. Fake photos—such as a 2021 MiG-21 crash image labeled as a Rafale loss and a 2004 wildfire video passed off as bombings in Amritsar—have been exposed by India’s official channels.

Sources say Pakistan’s strategy aims to dilute the real impact of Indian strikes, garner sympathy, and create a facade of parity. To counter this, India has begun compiling visual documentation of all military operations to ensure transparency and international credibility.