Claim:
A video circulating widely on social media alleges that amid ongoing Pakistan–Afghanistan border tensions, terrorists have shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft.
Fact:
The claim is false and misleading. Verification shows that the video is neither recent nor related to Pakistan. The footage is from India’s Rajasthan state, depicting a three-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft crash, which had no link to Pakistan or any cross-border conflict.
Background
As tensions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border escalated recently, several unverified videos began circulating on social media platforms claiming to show alleged military engagements. One such video purportedly shows a fighter jet crashing and burning, with users asserting it was a Pakistan Air Force aircraft downed by militants.
Verification
Fact-checkers traced the viral footage to an incident in Rajasthan, India, reported by multiple Indian news organisations including NDTV and India Today.
The visuals match those from a Jaguar trainer aircraft that crashed during a routine sortie in Churu district, Rajasthan.
At the time of the incident, the Indian Air Force had confirmed that the crash occurred due to a technical malfunction, adding that both pilots ejected safely. No reports indicated any hostile activity or involvement of Pakistan.
Moreover, the Pakistan Air Force and relevant government departments have issued no statements confirming any aircraft loss in recent days. Major national and international media outlets have also not reported any such event.
Analysis
Visual comparison between the viral video and footage from Indian media archives confirms identical topography, debris, and response vehicles visible in the Rajasthan crash.
Furthermore, metadata and earlier uploads available online predate the current border tensions by several years.
This video has previously resurfaced in misinformation campaigns during periods of regional friction, misattributed as evidence of aerial combat or military losses.
Conclusion
The viral claim that a Pakistan Air Force jet was shot down by Afghan terrorists is completely baseless. The circulating video originates from a past Indian Air Force crash in Rajasthan, unrelated to Pakistan or the present situation along the border.
Readers are advised to verify the authenticity of such claims through credible news sources and official defence statements before sharing.
Verdict:
False — Misleading and Out of Context
