Amid mounting tension between India and Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, ‘war paranoia’ took over social media when Pakistanis panicked after hearing a loud boom on Thursday, 21 February, near the Sialkot border.
A sonic boom is described as “a loud explosive noise caused by the shock wave from an aircraft or other objects travelling faster than the speed of sound.”
While several Pakistanis started sharing panic-stricken posts on their social media handles fearing a declaration of war by India in retaliation to the Pulwama attack, it was later made clear that actually two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet fighter planes had carried out supersonic flights along the Sialkot border, reported The Nation.
‘I Thought War Has Been Declared’
“I thought war has just begun. From shakargarh (sic)” Twitter user Muhahhad Yahya Khan said on the micro-blogging platform.
From wondering if there was a blast in Sialkot area, to tweeting visuals of alleged Pakistani tanks moving for “counter-attack,” Twitter was abuzz with rumours.
Some even claimed that one IAF jet was shot down by Pakistanis, but it was not true.
Indian Tweeple Too, Share Rumours of Alleged Bomb-Drops
Indian tweeple too, posted on alleged bomb-drops and air strikes.
And Finally Some Light to What Really Happened...
Journalists, both in India and Pakistan, clarified that the loud sound was heard because the Pakistani fighter jets broke the sound barrier while patrolling.
The Pakistan-based newspaper,The Nation, reported, quoting officials, that the fighter jets were patrolling to check the level of preparedness to respond lest there is an airspace violation by India.
War Paranoia is Real And So is War Mongering
War paranoia is real even as many on social media and TV news channels have been mongering revenge from the neighbouring country over the death of 40 CRPF jawans in the Pulwama terror attack, orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
‘We Will Retaliate,’ Say Both India & Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, 19 February, had said that if India attacks, his country will retaliate too.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs slammed Khan's statement on the attack as a ‘lame excuse’ as he denied Pakistan's involvement in the attack.
Days after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has given “full freedom” to the armed forces to respond to the attack.
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