KABUL/ISLAMABAD - The Afghan Taliban and its official media channels have initiated a concerted information warfare campaign against Pakistan in response to recent airstrikes on terrorist camps inside Afghanistan. Reports suggest that Taliban accounts have been directed to recycle old earthquake footage and images of children, falsely presenting them as fresh victims of Pakistani attacks.
Fabricated Narratives
Following Pakistan's precision strikes on militant hideouts in the border regions, the Taliban has resorted to a pattern of disinformation. Reports and user accounts indicate that a directive appears to have been issued for the rapid dissemination of recycled visual material to create an immediate narrative of civilian casualties. This follows a historical pattern where the Taliban has repurposed old imagery of natural disasters, accidents, or past conflicts to support its propaganda objectives.
🚨🇦🇫 BE ALERT!
- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) June 28, 2026
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has ordered Taliban accounts to recycle earthquake videos and images of children, falsely portraying them as victims of Pakistan's airstrikes.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes on terrorist camps inside Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/sUR3Bq7cDU
Social Media Disinformation
Platforms are reportedly seeing a surge in posts using hashtags designed to trend the "victims" of the strikes, often accompanied by photos that do not show current events. Analysts suggest that this tactic is intended to distract from the primary target of the Pakistani operations-the Indian-sponsored TTP (Fitna al-Khwarij) camps-and to manufacture international outrage to pressure Pakistan diplomatically.
Pakistan's Defense
Islamabad maintains that the recent strikes were highly precise, conducted on the basis of credible intelligence, and targeted specific camps used by militants responsible for cross-border terrorism. Pakistan continues to urge the international community and media to verify sources before amplifying what it calls "Taliban propaganda" and to recognize the ongoing threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
