As the dust settles on Operation Sindoor, India’s recent successful military operation, an unusual silence—bordering on calculated dismissal—has descended across much of the Western and Chinese press. Rather than highlighting India’s tactical gains or the effective use of indigenous and Russian-origin systems, much of the global media coverage has been dismissive or outright hostile. Why?
This isn’t simply about regional rivalry between India and Pakistan. What we’re witnessing is narrative warfare—a disinformation campaign that extends far beyond the borders of South Asia. At stake is the credibility of the global arms market, particularly the dominance of Western and Chinese defence manufacturers whose influence shapes not just weapons systems, but geopolitics and media narratives.
A Pattern of Selective Reporting
Operation Sindoor, executed with surgical precision by the Indian Armed Forces, utilized a mix of indigenous and Russian-origin platforms, including BrahMos cruise missiles, Rafale jets with SCALP munitions, and the S-400 air defense system.
The operation’s success—neutralizing nine terrorist camps in just 25 minutes with no reported damage to Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure—demonstrated India’s technological prowess and strategic restraint. Yet, Western media outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post framed the strikes as escalatory, emphasizing Pakistan’s unverified claims of civilian casualties and mosque attacks without rigorous fact-checking.
CNN’s headline, “India and Pakistan on brink of wider conflict,” and The Times’ “India Bombs Pakistan After Tourist Massacre, Raising Fears of Conflict,” leaned heavily on alarmist rhetoric, sidelining India’s evidence-backed narrative of targeting terrorist hubs like those of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Meanwhile, Chinese state-run Global Times went further, falsely reporting that Pakistan shot down three Indian jets, a claim swiftly debunked by India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Indian Embassy in Beijing.
These outlets have largely ignored India’s detailed briefings, which included satellite imagery and strike footage presented by the government of India. The omission of India’s defence achievements, particularly the effectiveness of its indigenous and Russian systems, raises questions about the motives driving this coverage.
The Global Arms Market at Stake
The selective outrage and disinformation surrounding Operation Sindoor are less about India-Pakistan dynamics and more about the global arms market, where the U.S., China, and Russia vie for dominance. India’s defense sector, increasingly self-reliant through initiatives like “Make in India” and bolstered by Russian partnerships, poses a growing threat to Western and Chinese defense industries.
The S-400 system’s successful interception of Pakistani drones and missiles, the BrahMos missile’s precision, and the Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets outperforming expectations have showcased a defense ecosystem that doesn’t rely heavily on American or Chinese hardware. This is a direct challenge to the credibility of Western and Chinese manufacturers, whose products—like the U.S.-supplied F-16s and Chinese JF-17s used by Pakistan—have been outmaneuvered in this conflict.
Every neutralized Chinese-made drone or American-supplied aircraft isn’t just a tactical victory for India—it’s a blow to the marketing narratives of defense giants like Lockheed Martin and China’s Norinco.
Disinformation as Narrative Warfare
Pakistan’s disinformation campaign, amplified by Western and Chinese media, is a textbook case of narrative warfare. Pro-Pakistan social media handles have flooded platforms with fabricated claims, such as Indian jets being shot down or the Indian Army surrendering at Chora Post, often using recycled footage from unrelated events, like a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab or 2024 sectarian clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar have lent official weight to these falsehoods, only to retract or be debunked later.
The PIB (Press information Bureau) has flagged at least seven major instances of such propaganda, with India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting calling it a “coordinated attempt to mislead the media, distort the global narrative, and manipulate public perception.”
Western media’s uncritical amplification of these claims, without verifying India’s counter-evidence, suggests a willingness to prioritize narrative over truth. This aligns with the interests of Western defense industries, which face increasing competition from India’s defense exports, projected to reach $5 billion by 2025, and its partnerships with Russia.
Similarly, China, a key supplier to Pakistan, has a vested interest in downplaying the failures of its equipment, like the Songar drones reportedly neutralized by India’s air defenses. The Global Times’ unverified reporting on Indian jet losses is a clear attempt to prop up Pakistan’s image while undermining India’s defense credibility.
India’s Defense Industrial Complex: The Unreported Story
Lost in the Western media’s narrative is the remarkable story of India’s defense industrial complex. The success of Operation Sindoor underscores decades of investment in indigenous technology and strategic acquisitions. The BrahMos missile, a joint India-Russia venture, has proven its precision in real combat, while the S-400 system, acquired from Russia, has demonstrated its ability to counter aerial threats.
India’s private sector, including companies like Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge, has bolstered this ecosystem, producing everything from drones to artillery systems. The operation also highlighted the Indian Air Force’s integration of French Rafale jets, which, despite being Western in origin, were deployed in a way that showcased India’s operational ingenuity.
This self-reliance threatens the Western defence market, which has long relied on India as a major buyer. The U.S., for instance, has pushed for India to procure more F-35s and Patriot systems, but India’s preference for Russian and indigenous platforms, like the upcoming Tejas Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, signals a shift. By not reporting on India’s defence achievements, Western media effectively downplay this challenge to their domestic industries.
The Cost of Truth in a High-Stakes Game
In the business of global arms, truth is indeed the first casualty. The U.S. and China, as leading players in the defense market, cannot afford to let India’s successes, particularly with Russian and indigenous systems, reshape perceptions of military superiority. The anti-India propaganda, from doctored videos to skewed headlines, is a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo. By framing India as the aggressor and ignoring its defense achievements, Western and Chinese media protect their economic interests while perpetuating a narrative that keeps India’s capabilities in the shadows.
India, however, is fighting back—not just on the battlefield but in the information war. The government’s proactive fact-checking, detailed press briefings, and use of visual evidence have exposed the flaws in Pakistan’s propaganda and the complicity of global media. As India aims to become a global defence manufacturing hub, transitioning from “Make in India” to “Make for the World,” it must continue to counter this narrative warfare with transparency and assertiveness.
Conclusion
In modern conflict, the battlefield extends beyond borders and skies—it lives in headlines, hashtags, and press briefings. Operation Sindoor was not just a demonstration of India’s military capability but also a litmus test for its narrative control.
As India emerges as a serious contender in the global defense industry, it must prepare not only to defend its territory but also to assert its story. The silence or distortion in global media underscores a hard truth that military victories must now be accompanied by victories in perception. In this war of words, transparency, evidence, and confidence are India’s strongest allies.
