India and Pakistan dispute accuracy of 2025 conflict documentary

A dispute has emerged regarding the historical accuracy of a new Discovery Channel India documentary, ‘Declassified: Operation Sindoor’, which depicts the 88-hour military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025.

Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has criticized the film as a “Bollywood-style” propaganda piece designed to mask military failures. The ISPR claims the documentary uses selective editing and cinematic reconstructions to rewrite the operational outcomes of the conflict, which Pakistan refers to as ‘Marka-e-Haq’.

Discrepancies center on aerial combat losses. While the documentary presents a specific narrative of the strikes, reports from Reuters and independent analysts suggest significant Indian aircraft losses during the engagement. Evidence cited includes US official assessments and reports from the Washington Post and AP, which indicate that Pakistani aircraft, including a J-10C, were involved in downing multiple Indian fighters, such as a Rafale and a MiG-29. India’s own Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has acknowledged initial aircraft losses, though he has disputed the total number reported by Pakistan.