During the recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, misleading information continued to spread widely on social media. While some fake news originated from Indian accounts, Afghan accounts were also active in sharing false claims.
One such example includes Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid sharing a photo of a missile, falsely claiming that the Afghan Defence Forces had successfully tested a missile capable of hitting targets up to 400 kilometers away.
However, a reverse image search revealed that the missile photo actually originates from North Korea’s missile tests conducted in February 2023 — specifically the “Hwasal-2” cruise missile trial held on 23rd February.
The photo was part of North Korea’s official state news agency coverage, also reported by international media like Al Jazeera. Afghan Taliban-linked social media accounts cropped and reused this image to spread false news about Afghanistan’s military capabilities.
This example highlights the ongoing use of disinformation by various parties amid geopolitical tensions. It serves as a reminder to verify information carefully before sharing and to be wary of manipulative content designed to mislead.
