BHARAT- A high-profile event intended to showcase Pakistan’s military strength has instead become a global embarrassment. Pakistan’s newly promoted Field Marshal and Army Chief, Asim Munir, was recently mocked worldwide after gifting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a framed painting claimed to depict “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos” — Pakistan’s supposed military operation against India.
However, social media users quickly uncovered that the Pakistan fake Operation Bunyan image was actually lifted from a 2019 Chinese military drill photo showing the People’s Liberation Army’s rocket launchers. This revelation has severely undermined Pakistan’s claims of military success
The Fake Image Controversy: What Actually Happened?
At a dinner with Pakistan’s top political and military leaders, General Munir proudly presented a framed painting, calling it a symbol of Pakistan’s victory in what was claimed to be Operation Bunyan. But soon, sharp-eyed people on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), noticed something was off. With just a quick Google search, they discovered the image wasn’t original at all—it was actually a recycled photo from a Chinese military exercise.
This little discovery quickly grew into a big question mark about the truthfulness of Pakistan’s military claims and the reliability of its leadership. The timing couldn’t be worse, especially as reports were coming in about India successfully intercepting Pakistani drones and missiles during the related “Operation Sindoor.” It’s clear this controversy has shaken the confidence in the official story.
Field Marshal Munir’s Promotion Under Scrutiny
Traditionally, the prestigious rank of Field Marshal is awarded to military leaders after a decisive wartime victory. Yet, Munir’s promotion comes amid controversy, with many critics calling it politically motivated, especially given the apparent setbacks Pakistan has faced in recent conflicts.
Western Hypocrisy: Selective Outrage, Strategic Silence
As Bharat, I’ve seen how the world turns a blind eye when the lies come from Pakistan—especially when China’s quietly backing them—while staying loud only when it suits their agenda. Had a similar propaganda blunder come from a democratic state like India, the global headlines would have been relentless — “warmongering,” “aggression,” “fake nationalism.” But now, when the Pakistan Army gifts a plagiarized Chinese war image to sell a fake victory, Western silence is deafening.
This selective outrage exposes a deep-rooted Western hypocrisy — one that ignores misinformation when it suits geopolitical convenience, especially if it comes from allies or “strategic partners” like Pakistan. When India stands firm and transparent, we’re called ultra-nationalist. But when Islamabad weaves fake tales of military glory using Chinese stock images, it’s treated as a non-story. The double standards are clear—and dangerous.
The Role of China and the Bigger Geopolitical Picture
That fake Operation Bunyan image? It wasn’t even Pakistan’s to begin with—it came straight out of a Chinese military drill from 2019. And that says a lot. Pakistan and China may call each other “iron brothers,” but what does it say when one borrows old photos from the other just to build up a fake story of military success?
China, as always, stays quiet and calculated—backing Pakistan when it serves its own interests. But this whole mess shows something deeper: Pakistan doesn’t have much to show for itself, so it ends up borrowing someone else’s pictures to pretend it does
.And on a bigger scale, this isn’t just about one fake image. It’s about how propaganda spreads, how misinformation is dressed up as patriotism, and how the world picks and chooses what to question. In South Asia, where every move is loaded with history and tension, even one fake photo can tell the truth—about who’s pretending and who’s prepared.
Final Thoughts from Bharat
This whole drama around the fake Operation Bunyan image just shows how quickly lies can fall apart—especially in today’s digital age where nothing stays hidden for long. In a region like ours, where every step has history behind it, we can’t afford to believe everything at face value.
As Bharat, I just want to say this—don’t let loud claims fool you. Look a little closer, think a little deeper. The stories countries tell might sound powerful, but the truth? It always finds its way through the noise. And when it does, it’s louder and stronger than any fake headline.
