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During the recent clash between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India, not only were world leaders watching closely, but netizens around the globe were also locked in. As tensions between the two countries reached a boiling point, Chinese support for Pakistan wasn’t just seen on the diplomatic front but also online. 

Chinese social media users, especially meme creators, jumped into the digital battlefield and began trolling India with hilarious, fiery content. 

China, being Pakistan’s strong and trusted ally, stood like a steel wall during this tense time. Alongside this political support, Chinese memers also joined hands with Pakistanis in the online “meme war”, mocking India’s military failures and celebrating Pakistan’s strong response.

Three Indian Rafales were reportedly downed by a Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 fighter jet, giving Beijing an extra reason to celebrate.

After this, the Chinese internet quickly flooded with funny videos and memes mocking India’s military setbacks during what many are calling the biggest air battle in modern history. The content included jokes about the destroyed S-400 missile defence system, the Rafale jets shot down by Pakistan, and even an AI-generated video of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a broken Rafale at a fashion show.

In another AI-generated clip, a Chinese panda is seen training Pakistani markhors, symbolizing the strong China-Pakistan alliance in a light-hearted way.

Another TikTok video by four Chinese content creators went viral on social media. The video shows the memers dressed in Indian-style clothes, dancing to a funny version of the Indian Punjabi hit Tunak Tunak. 

While dancing, they act out India’s failed claims and the loss of their Rafale jets. The video is mocking how Pakistan Air Force shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including the modern French-made Rafale fighter jet, a big moment that even caught China’s attention.

Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, has come out in support of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, after the latter and his family were targeted by right-wing trolls following the ceasefire announcement between Pakistan and India on May 10.

Vikram’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, which had been active since before he assumed office as Foreign Secretary in 2024, was withheld shortly after India’s right-wing began trolling him. They also reshared old tweets featuring his family and subjected them to online abuse.

Right-wing groups labelled Misri a “traitor”, “coward”, and “anti-India”, accusing him of undermining national integrity after India agreed to a ceasefire with Pakistan.

Terming the trolling campaign “painful”, Jilani wrote in a post on his X account on Monday: “The present campaign against him is painful and needs to be condemned.”

Describing Misri’s character, the former Pakistani foreign minister wrote: “I have known FS @VikramMisri for a long time. He is an outstanding diplomat, a decent human being, and well-respected around the globe.”

Misri joined the Foreign Service in 1989 and has previously served as India’s Ambassador to China and as Deputy National Security Adviser. Since May 7, when India launched missile strikes against Pakistan and the latter responded, Misri has been communicating Indian military developments to both domestic and international media.

The right-wing campaign extended to Misri’s daughter, Didon Misri, who is based in London and works at the global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. She was subjected to derogatory abuse, with trolls attacking her alleged legal support for Rohingya refugees.

However, according to her professional profile, Didon Misri specialises in investment treaties and international commercial arbitration.

India’s leading English-language daily, citing individuals familiar with her professional background, reported that Didon briefly interned with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Myanmar during her law school years in India. Her role involved providing research support on various international humanitarian issues, including the matter of Rohingya refugees.

On Sunday, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Association expressed solidarity with Misri. “The IAS Association stands in solidarity with Shri Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary, & his family. Unwarranted personal attacks on civil servants performing their duties with integrity are deeply regrettable. We reaffirm our commitment to uphold the dignity of public service,” the Association stated in a post on X.

India Today has published the list of the most searched words on Google by Pakistanis and Indians amid military escalation, with Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Aurangzeb Ahmed emerging as one of the most searched topics in Pakistan.

The search trends, recorded from May 7 to May 12, reveal that “Ceasefire meaning” topped the list with over 10 million searches in India. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, “Rafale Jet” and “Aurangzeb Ahmed PAF” led the charts with nearly 200,000 searches.

AVM Aurangzeb Ahmed has become widely popular among youth in Pakistan owing to his calm, humour and charming personality. As the spokesperson of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), he had been explaining the operational details that Pakistan carried out against Indian aggression during the conflict.

During press conferences, he sometimes respectfully cracked jokes at his Indian counterparts. 

One of his most widely shared moments on social media features him saying: “I will pick up from where I left, day before yesterday, PAF vs IAF, 6-nil,” alluding to the PAF shooting down five Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafales, one Su-30, one MiG-29, and one combat drone.

In India, “Operation Sindoor” and “Mock Drill” were the second and third most searched terms with five million and one million searches, respectively. However, in Pakistan, “Islamabad Airport” ranked third with 100,000 searches.

India’s Operation Sindoor was orchestrated on the night between May 6 and May 7, followed by Pakistan shooting down their fighter jets. India claimed that the action was in response to a militants’ attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people, including a Nepalese national.

However, Pakistan has maintained that dozens of innocent civilians were martyred in Indian aggression.

“IMF”, “DGMO”, “Flight Radar 24” and “S-400” were searched 500,000 times in India. On the Pakistani side, people were looking up “JF-17 Thunder” and “DG ISPR,” both searched for 50,000 times, and the words “Dassault Aviation share price” and “Shivangi Singh” were searched 20,000 times in Pakistan. 

The DGMO (Director General Military Operations) is a high-ranking army officer in charge of military planning and border operations.

DGMO is responsible for planning and overseeing military operations, including combat missions and counter-terrorism efforts. Ensuring that the armed forces remain prepared for any operation is a key part of the job.