Last night, the Afghanistan authorities attacked Pakistani troops in multiple mountainous locations on the northern border in the wee hours of Saturday, October 12, prompting diplomatic protests and a swift military response from Pakistan.
Multiple social media accounts claimed Afghan forces downed Pakistani jets, but Azaad Fact Check identified widespread disinformation and fake footage circulated mainly by India-based X handles, investigators said.
According to the Fact Checkers, the video circulating was of India’s MIG-21 which was crashed in Rajasthan’s Bhimra Village back in 09 July 2025.
Azaad Fact Check has identified spread of disinformation by multiple India based X handles regarding Pakistan Airforce jet crashed.
— Azaad Fact Check (@azaadfactcheck) October 11, 2025
India based X handles are using video of Indian Airforce jet Crash in Rajasthan and defaming Indian Airforce themself. https://t.co/QYWPae8ebv pic.twitter.com/9XEdwpvXft
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attacks as unprovoked, saying civilians were fired upon and warning Pakistan would respond “with a stone for every brick,” he added.
Islamabad said its forces replied with gunfire and artillery, while state media reported capturing nineteen Afghan border posts during the nocturnal exchanges, claims yet to be independently verified.
Military sources in Pakistan confirmed exchanges of fire occurred at multiple frontier points, adding that troops repelled attacks and took tactical measures to secure vulnerable border sectors.
The incident coincided with the Afghan foreign minister’s official visit to India, raising concerns among analysts about regional diplomatic tensions and possible links to the timing of the strikes.
Fact-checkers traced viral clips to unrelated incidents, noting one reused video actually showed an Indian Air Force accident in Rajasthan, as investigators warned about deliberate misinformation online.
Local tribal leaders voiced support for Pakistan’s security forces, pledging cooperation against militants and warning they would resist any cross-border incursions threatening civilian lives and property.
