ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has strongly rejected claims circulated by sections of Afghan and Indian media alleging that a Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and that its pilot was captured.
In an official statement, the ministry clarified that the allegation was attributed to officials of the Taliban administration and was later amplified by Indian media outlets and regional platforms. Authorities emphasised that Pakistan’s armed forces have not reported any loss of aircraft.
The ministry further stated that no independent international media organisation or defence monitoring agency has verified the claim. Officials noted that no physical or visual evidence has been presented to support the allegation, including aircraft debris, verified crash-site imagery, or confirmed proof of a captured pilot.
Referring to videos circulating online, the ministry said the footage being shared as evidence predates the current claim and is unrelated. It added that an image aired by Afghan broadcaster TOLO News and widely shared on social media does not depict a Pakistani aircraft.
According to the statement, the image corresponds to a separate 2021 incident involving a Russian aircraft in Turkey and is being reused to create a misleading narrative.
The ministry described the reports as disinformation, stating that the claims rely on uncorroborated statements without verification from neutral or credible international sources.
Officials urged the public to rely on authentic information channels and avoid spreading unverified content, especially regarding sensitive defence matters.
