LONDON: International news broadcaster Sky News has deleted a false report claiming that Afghanistan had carried out an airstrike on Pakistan, following intense pressure from Pakistani users on social media. The development has sparked fresh criticism of the network’s journalism and specifically targeted its Afghan-origin anchor, Yalda Hakim.
The now-deleted report, which was also promoted on Sky News’ official social media handles, alleged that Afghanistan had launched an aerial attack across the border into Pakistani territory . However, the claim was immediately met with widespread skepticism from defense analysts and fact-checkers, who pointed to a glaring flaw: Afghanistan’s current administration does not operate a functional air force capable of conducting such an operation .
Critics highlighted that the report ignored basic ground realities and lacked any supporting evidence, labeling it a “baseless and fabricated” piece of journalism . Security sources also refuted the claim, noting that the report overlooked the operational capabilities of the Afghan military infrastructure .
Following a significant backlash on X (formerly Twitter), where Pakistani users and media watchdogs demanded accountability, Sky News removed both the report and the associated social media post from its platforms .
The incident has turned the spotlight on anchor Yalda Hakim, with social media users accusing the Afghan-origin journalist of promoting an “anti-Pakistan” agenda. This is not the first time Hakim has faced such allegations. In the past, Pakistani commentators have accused her of “selective, agenda-driven journalism,” particularly regarding her coverage of terrorist groups and her reliance on narratives that align with Indian propaganda against Pakistan .
