ISLAMABAD: Pakistan also continued its airstrikes on third day against terrorist hideouts in Afghan territory military bases of the Afghan Taliban backing Fitna al Khawarij in cross border attacks.
In response to these attacks, Afghanistan based social media accounts circulating a video on social media claiming that a Pakistani jet was shot down during the operations.
The Claim
Afghan Taliban officials, supported by certain Indian media outlets, claimed that Afghan forces shot down a Pakistani fighter jet in Nangarhar and captured its pilot alive. The reports were widely circulated online, including videos and images presented as “proof” of the incident.
Fact Check:
No Aircraft Lost
Pakistani authorities and a BBC report has confirmed that no jet was shot down. No aircraft loss has been recorded, and no independent international defense monitoring agency has verified the story. Modern conflict zones typically document verified crashes quickly — none exist in this case.
No Evidence Presented
There is no visual proof of a crash, wreckage, or pilot capture. Geolocated images, satellite evidence, or eyewitness accounts supporting the claim have not surfaced.
Viral Videos Are Misleading
Videos circulating online as “proof” are old or unrelated. Some show prior panic situations in Afghanistan, while others are recycled clips repurposed to fit the false narrative.
Misused Images
An image shared by TOLO News showing a downed jet is not from Pakistan. It originates from a Russian aircraft incident in Turkey in 2021, highlighting deliberate misuse to construct a false story.
Coordinated Disinformation
This claim fits a pattern of coordinated propaganda from the India–Afghanistan media ecosystem. Hundreds of misleading videos have recently been debunked, and credible defense analysts confirm that Afghan forces do not possess the operational capability described in the reports.
Verdict
The claim that a Pakistani fighter jet was downed in Nangarhar and its pilot captured is false.
- No aircraft was lost.
- No pilot capture occurred.
- Circulated videos and images are unrelated or recycled.
- The narrative is propaganda amplified without independent verification.
Advisory
Authorities urge the public not to rely on unverified battlefield claims from partisan or hostile outlets. Always cross-check with official Pakistani authorities and credible international sources before sharing.
