Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched “Operation Sindoor” targeting terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. This escalated tensions between the two countries, leading to drone and missile strikes from both sides.
On May 15, 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the Senate, citing the UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph. He claimed the paper praised the Pakistan Air Force as the “undisputed king of the sky” for its performance in regional conflicts and quick response capabilities. A supposed news clipping featuring this claim has gone viral on social media. The viral image states:
“Pakistan Air Force: The undisputed king of the sky. Experts cite performance in regional conflicts and quick reaction capabilities. Feared, respected, and remarkably efficient.”
It also claims that The Telegraph praised the Pakistan Air Force’s combat readiness, advanced technology, and effectiveness in high-altitude warfare.
Fact Check
DFRAC conducted a detailed analysis of the viral news clipping to verify these claims. Several spelling and grammatical errors were identified, raising doubts about its authenticity.
DFRAC also examined the Daily Telegraph e-paper from May 10, 2025, and found no such report. A comparison of the viral clipping with the actual newspaper’s front page revealed significant differences in design, layout, and font—further indicating the image was fabricated.
Additionally, a tweet by India’s Press Information Bureau confirmed that the viral news clipping was AI-generated.
Conclusion
DFRAC’s investigation confirms that the Pakistani Foreign Minister’s claims are misleading. The news clipping he shared was not published by The Daily Telegraph and appears to have been generated using AI. The Pakistan Air Force was not referred to as the “king of the skies” by the UK publication.
