Information War in the Age of AI: Media Narratives and Misinformation during ‘Operation Sindhoor’

Abstract

In the digital era, wars are no longer confined to Warfield’s; they are increasingly fought in the contested space of information. This paper critically examines the information war that unfolded during Operation Sindhoor, a recent military episode within the broader India– Pakistan conflict. It explores how information and misinformation were strategically deployed by state and non-state actors to shape public opinion, influence international narratives, and destabilize adversarial trust. The study explores how Indian digital media contributed to the construction of imaginative nationalism, often portraying Pakistan as the ultimate enemy, while factual reporting and responsible journalism remained scarce. It evaluates where the media failed in its democratic responsibility and shifted toward emotion-driven, militaristic narratives. The analysis is grounded in several theoretical frameworks. The article exposes a troubling trend in Indian media's tendency to sensationalize conflict, raising serious concerns spread of ims/disinformations in the context of Indo–Pak relations. By framing Operation Sindhoor as a case study in information warfare, the paper reflects on the ethical responsibilities of the global information community — especially librarians, educators, and archivists — in times of political and military tension. It calls for stronger frameworks for digital literacy, information verification, and crisis communication to mitigate the consequences of such conflicts on public understanding and democratic discourse.