In a significant international embarrassment for Pakistan, the French Navy has officially debunked false claims circulating in Pakistani media. Geo TV, a prominent Pakistani news outlet, has been exposed for publishing ‘misinformation and disinformation’ regarding Operation Sindoor, including fabricated quotes and baseless assertions about Indian Rafale fighter jets being shot down.
The controversy ignited when Geo TV published an article alleging that a French naval commander had acknowledged Pakistan’s air superiority and confirmed the downing of Indian Rafales. These sensational claims were presented as fact, an apparent attempt by Pakistan to rewrite the narrative of a military confrontation. However, the French Navy’s swift and direct rebuttal has nullified these assertions.
Adding to the fabrication, the Pakistani report incorrectly named the French officer in question. Instead of Captain Yvan Launay, the outlet identified him as ‘Jacques Launay.’ This factual error underscores the extent of the disinformation campaign.
France’s Marine Nationale issued a stern statement on social media, confirming that Captain Launay never provided consent for any publication and that the article was rife with ‘extensive misinformation and disinformation.’ This official French refutation leaves Pakistan’s propaganda efforts in tatters on the global stage, highlighting a clear case of manufacturing falsehoods to deceive both domestic and international audiences.