Pakistan’s Foreign Office has firmly dismissed reports in sections of the Indian media alleging that nuclear-capable Shaheen missiles were deployed during Pakistan’s recent military operation, calling the claims “false and misleading”.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan vehemently denied the accusations during a press briefing on Monday, calling them a component of a larger disinformation campaign that aims to distort Pakistan’s military actions during the fight, which is currently known as “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”.
The large-scale operation was launched by Pakistan in response to what it described as unprovoked Indian military aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and inside Pakistani territory. Pakistani strikes reportedly targeted several Indian military positions in what officials termed “measured and precise” retaliation.
According to Pakistani authorities, the conflict, which lasted for more than three days, concluded on May 10 following a ceasefire mediated by the United States. During the hostilities, Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafale jets, as well as numerous drones.
The Pakistani military’s media wing, ISPR, reported that Indian strikes during the confrontation resulted in the deaths of 53 Pakistanis, including 13 military personnel and 40 civilians.
The conflict was triggered by a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir last month, where 26 tourists were killed. India swiftly accused Pakistan of involvement, though officials in Islamabad noted that no evidence was provided to substantiate the claim.
The controversy over the alleged use of nuclear missiles gained traction after a video surfaced on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Indian Army, supposedly showing a Shaheen missile launch. The post was later deleted, and Pakistan insists the content was fabricated. No clarification has since been issued by the Indian military.
“This kind of disinformation not only undermines trust but also raises serious concerns about the intent behind such narratives,” said Khan.
He also pointed out that Pakistan had publicly disclosed the types of weaponry used in the operation in an ISPR statement dated May 12. According to the release, the military employed Fatah-series precision-guided missiles, advanced loitering munitions, and long-range artillery — none of which included the Shaheen missile system.
Khan accused Indian outlets of spreading the narrative without verifying facts and suggested the claims were an attempt to deflect from Indian setbacks in what he referred to as “Operation Sindoor” and to downplay Pakistan’s conventional military achievements.
He called for greater accountability among media institutions and warned that circulating unverified and provocative content threatens regional peace and reflects poorly on responsible journalism.
Pakistan reiterated its commitment to regional stability and called on India to avoid rhetoric that could undermine diplomatic engagement and mutual confidence-building.