In a now-deleted post, an X user from India claimed, “Medical emergency in Pakistan. Nuclear radiation is spreading!” The fake news quickly gained traction from an audience willing to parody misinformation with photos of their own.
A Pakistani user indulged the post with a clip from a drama serial and a bite of sarcasm. “This man’s video was just shared by his brother. He can clearly be seen screaming, howling, and fighting women for no reason,” the user said of a raging Feroze Khan. “This is the scale of the horrific radiation exposure right now. Where is the government? When will they take action?”
Another user shared a photo of policemen posing with a detainee in a wolf mask, adding a lycanthropic twist to the hilarity. “Due to India’s attack, nuclear radiation is spreading and turning people into wolves who then attack others. The police caught one near Kachupura.”
A netizen handed it back to the original poster by replying with a screencap of the ailing father from the Indian film, 3 Idiots. “Another victim of nuclear radiation spotted,” the user simply wrote, earning laughing emojis and nods of approval from like-minded netizens.
But if there’s one thing you should know about the netizens in this corner of the world, it’s that they don’t discriminate. They roast everyone equally. “Nuclear radiation has started affecting people’s behaviour,” a user wrote over a clip of our very own Chahat Fateh Ali Khan blessing us with his unforgettable vocals.
Even Tahir Shah and his uniquely nostalgic tracks entered the mix as another netizen wrote, “Nuclear radiations are turning Pakistanis into angels.”
From using buckets as helmets to loading up on cricket pads to create a makeshift armour, it’s evident that Pakistanis and their meme subjects are more than prepared for the onslaught of misinformation that Indian media doesn’t seem shy of perpetuating.
As an upsurge of fake news attempts to rattle the nation, the average citizen may rest assured that Pakistani netizens are in no mood of abandoning their keyboards either.
The PAF fandom soars
Aside from battling vitriol and misinformation on social media, Pakistani netizens have proved over the last few days that they don’t mind showing some love either. With the valiant PAF in the spotlight, users can’t help but express their admiration in creative ways.
For the unversed, Air Vice Marshall Aurangzeb Ahmad is the internet’s newest heartthrob for more reasons than just being a national hero. An X user described it best: “We went from being worried about missiles to simping over Air Vice Marshall in three days.”
Packing both a soldier’s determination and charm that has netizens waiting for every press conference, Aurangzeb is a force to be reckoned with. Applauding his contributions, a user wrote, “Air Vice Marshall Aurangzeb – that’s the name India will not forget for centuries!”
The AVM caught the attention of Na Maloom Afraad director Nabeel Qureshi, who responded with enthusiasm to the idea of making a biopic on Aurangzeb. “[Make a] movie on him, please! At least it will be based on facts,” an X user urged. “Absolutely! [It would] be an honour!” replied Nabeel, displaying as much vigour as every local celebrity speaking out against Bollywood’s jingoistic films and attitude towards Pakistan.
Irreparable damage
As the divide between Pakistan and India grows irretrievably deeper with the escalating violence in the name of so-called Operation Sindoor, two things have become impossible to ignore.
The first is the jingoistic rhetoric spewed by Bollywood celebrities on social media. And the second is the outrage of Pakistani A-listers at this flagrant call to violence in the guise of patriotism.
In the wake of the Indian military attacks that resulted in the deaths of multiple Pakistani civilians, including a child, Indian stars made no secret of where they stand.
Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Varun Dhawan, Suniel Shetty, Sidharth Malhotra, Kanagana Ranaut, and Adnan Sami, lauded the actions of their armed forces on Instagram and X, signing off messages with “Zero tolerance for terrorism” or the ever popular “Jai Hind”.
This congratulatory display of Bollywood fanning the flames of violence forms a diametric contrast to the grief and condolences displayed by Pakistani celebrities in the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam attacks that formed the prelude to India’s deadly military action across the border.
“Literally no one in Pakistan celebrated Pahalgam even though we were wrongly accused of it! And then they are celebrating killing our innocent children and women! Cowards of the highest form!” penned a furious Urwa Hocane, pointing to the clear difference in social media presence of stars on both sides of the border.
Urging her followers to do whatever they can in their own capacity to boycott Bollywood stars, Urwa continued in Urdu, “To hell with these Indian actors! I don’t know what they have done that you are dying to follow them. It’s a dead industry now.”
Signing off on a rousing note, Urwa finished, “Stop watching their sh** films that never existed without a small part maligning Muslims or Pakistanis!”