Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially rubbished claims that a Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. The rumors, which suggested a pilot had been captured alive by the “Islamic Emirate” forces, began circulating early Saturday and were quickly amplified by various regional outlets. The Ministry’s Fact Check division categorized the narrative as a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at spreading panic during a period of heightened regional instability.
🔎 Fact Check | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Title: False Report by Afghan News Agencies amplified by Indian Media outlets & khaleej Times about “Pakistani Jet Shot Down in Nangarhar; Pilot Captured”
🟠 Claim (circulated by Afghan Taliban officials & amplified by… pic.twitter.com/698PtX86fv
— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) February 28, 2026
Government officials pointed out that the footage being shared as “evidence” of a crash was actually recycled video from an unrelated incident in Turkey dating back to 2021. Furthermore, no independent international media or defense monitoring agencies have verified the loss of any Pakistani aircraft. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi told AFP that the claims are “totally untrue,” noting that Afghan forces currently lack the operational capability to carry out such an intercept.
You May Like To Read: War in the Middle East: US, and Israel Launch Massive Strike on Iran
The Ministry warned the public to remain vigilant against a “propaganda ecosystem” that has reportedly generated hundreds of misleading videos over the last 48 hours. With the broader Middle East currently engulfed in conflict, Pakistan is emphasizing the need for verified information to prevent cross-border escalations. No geolocated imagery or satellite evidence exists to support the Afghan claims, and the Pakistan Air Force has reported no missing assets or personnel.
Check out our latest video:
