Claim: A viral post circulating on Twitter, shared by the account The Legate IN, alleges that: “Just In: Top European military think-tank SIPRI confirms India struck the nuclear-related military infrastructure of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.” The post spread rapidly across social media, creating confusion and fear regarding a possible nuclear-level escalation between India and Pakistan. The claim is loosely based on a section from the SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which reads: “In early 2025 tensions between India and Pakistan briefly spilled over into armed conflict. The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis.”— Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS. He further added: “This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons.”
Fact-Check: Following a comprehensive review by our investigation team, the claim was found to lack credibility and is not supported by any verifiable evidence. The key findings are presented below:
1. SIPRI Did Not Confirm Any Indian Strike on Pakistani Nuclear Sites: The SIPRIYearbook provides a general warning about potential risks during regional military escalations. It does not name any state as having carried out a nuclear-related strike, nor does it confirm that any such incident occurred. This statement has been misrepresented and exaggerated on social media to fabricate a sensationalist narrative.
2. Indian Government Explicitly Denied Targeting Military or Nuclear Facilities: According to a statement published by Al Jazeera on May 6, 2025, the Indian government clarified: “India’s military targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.” It further stated: “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.” This official response leaves no ambiguity — India did not target Pakistani military or nuclear infrastructure.
3. No Confirmation from Government of Pakistan or Its Officials: If Pakistan’s nuclear sites had indeed been attacked, one would expect a strong official reaction from the Govt of Pakistan or the Foreign Office. However, no such claim, protest or acknowledgment has been issued by any Pakistani authority. Neither Pakistani mainstream media, social media nor international platforms reported any verified damage to nuclear infrastructure, further discrediting the viral claim.
4. The Source of the Claim is a Suspicious, Anti-Pakistan X Account: The X handle @TheLegateIN has a history of posting anti-Pakistan content, including unverified stories, inflammatory commentary, and strategic disinformation. Its consistent narrative alignment with hostile propaganda suggests it may be affiliated with covert influence operations or disinformation networks, potentially state-linked. This context significantly undermines the credibility of the original claim.
Conclusion: The investigation confirms that the claim concerning an alleged Indian strike on Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure is unfounded and unsupported by any credible evidence. The misrepresentation of an international report, amplified through an unreliable source, appears to be a deliberate effort to distort facts and inflame public sentiment. Readers are advised to exercise caution, seek information from verified channels and remain alert to the risks posed by strategic disinformation.
#IndiaPakistanWar#OperationSindoor#SIPRIreport#IndianNuclearStrikes#FakeNews
