At a time when Pakistan and Afghanistan have finally reached a ceasefire agreement in Doha after over a week of tensions, keeping the wave of disinformation afloat, another fake news item has surfaced on social media, this time involving a fabricated claim about the alleged downing of a Pakistani quad-copter by Taliban forces near the Durand Line.
The false narrative, largely pushed by Indian-linked accounts and their proxies, attempted to portray a battlefield success by circulating an old image and passing it off as recent. However, this claim has been thoroughly debunked by independent observers and Pakistani sources.
No credible media outlet, government authority, or third-party verification has substantiated the report of any Pakistani drone being shot down near the Afghan border. In fact, the image used in the viral post is from April 29, 2025, when the Pakistan Army downed an Indian quad-copter near the Line of Control in Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, after it violated Pakistan’s airspace.
This is not the first time that India’s digital disinformation machinery has attempted to manipulate battlefield perceptions in its favour. The recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan became another opportunity for fake narratives, misinformation, and recycled content aimed at sowing confusion and tarnishing Pakistan’s operational reputation.
However, these attempts have been quickly countered by Pakistani digital defenders and impartial social media users, who actively questioned the authenticity of the claims and brought forth the original sources of the image. The incident is part of a broader pattern where false narratives are strategically floated in times of regional tension, only to be discredited soon after.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and military sources have categorically denied the drone-downing incident, terming the claim as completely baseless and part of a broader propaganda campaign.
In recent days, this is not the only attempt by Indian-linked or proxy propaganda networks to spread fake news. Just five days ago, on October 14, similar false claims surfaced from accounts tied to Fitna al-Hindustan (BLA), alleging that militants seized weapons from police in Mian Ghundi, Quetta, a story that was swiftly exposed as fabricated and baseless. The following day, on October 15, yet another narrative emerged, portraying an alleged missile attack on Peshawar as part of a supposed India–Taliban alliance, which was later proven to be nothing more than a recycled video of a fire caused by a short circuit. Then, on October 17, these same propaganda channels attempted to push another lie, claiming an IED blast had targeted the Frontier Corps Headquarters in Panjgur, Balochistan, which also turned out to be entirely false.
Together, these fake stories reflect a clear and consistent pattern of digital deception aimed at spreading confusion, undermining morale, and masking the repeated failures of India and its sponsored groups. Pakistan’s security forces, media, and vigilant online community continue to expose and counter these disinformation campaigns with facts, unity, and resilience.
