In a bizarre turn of events, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has come under fire after gifting Army Chief Asim Munir a digitally edited portrait during a high-profile dinner. The photo, claimed to be from a military operation against India, was actually a snapshot from a 2019 Chinese military drill.
The event, hosted by Munir last week, was meant to honour Pakistan’s leadership for their “foresight” during a four-day military confrontation with India, known as Operation Bunyan al-Marsus. However, eagle-eyed netizens quickly identified the image as fake and traced it back to a Chinese drill conducted years ago.
Netizens Call Out ‘Photoshop War Tactics’
Outraged and amused in equal measure, users on X (formerly Twitter) slammed the Pakistani leadership for allegedly resorting to digital fakery to portray military success. “Pakistan’s latest masterpiece: Shehbaz Sharif presents a photoshopped painting from a 2019 Chinese drill to Failed Marshal Asim Munir. Guess when you can’t win on the battlefield, you win in Canva,” one user mocked.
“Should we call it a country?” another user remarked.
“Pakistan’s PM gifts Asim Munir a 2019 Chinese drill photo, claiming it’s ‘OP Bunyan Al Marsus’. Pakistan is now using a Chinese Drill Photo to Celebrate Its own Military Operation. They can’t even produce original visuals of their own military operation. Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir are fooling their entire Nation. REALLY,” wrote another.
The controversy follows Pakistan’s recent defeat during the four-day conflict from May 10–14, as part of India’s Operation Sindoor launched to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.