Fact Check: Pak-Afghan conflict – Pakistani soldiers tortured in Taliban captivity? No, here is the truth
A video is circulating online, claiming to show Pakistani soldiers captured and caned by Afghan Taliban forces in the ongoing conflict.
By - Md Mahfooz Alam
Claim:The recent video shows Pakistani soldiers being tortured in Taliban captivity.
Fact:The claim is false. The video has been on the internet since 2019 and likely shows the training of the Pakistan Army’s SSG commandos.
Hyderabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged deadly fire on October 11-12, their most intense border clash after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Afghan officials claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while Pakistan claimed 200 Taliban and affiliate militants died in the fighting.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media shows shirtless men in military trousers with their hands tied and eyes blindfolded, claiming it shows Pakistani soldiers captured by the Afghan Taliban.
The serial peddler of misinformation, X handle Baba Banaras, shared the video with the caption, “BREAKING: Afghan forces have crossed the Durand Line, advancing into Pakistan-controlled territory in Angoor Adda & Dir areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani troops have abandoned several border posts amid the offensive. Many Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Afghan Taliban. (sic)” (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false, as the clip likely shows training of the Pakistan Army’s SSG commandos.
A reverse image search of the video’s keyframe led us to a longer version uploaded by Pakistani YouTube channels (links here and here) in 2019. This video also depicts similar visuals of tied and blindfolded shirtless men being caned on their buttocks.
The channels stated that the video depicts the training of the Special Service Group (SSG) by the Pakistan Army.
The SSG is the special forces unit of the Pakistan Army.
Furthermore, we analysed the longer version and noticed the Pakistan flag and ‘commando’ written on the uniform of the trainers. This confirmed that the men administering the caning are not from the Afghanistan armed forces.
While we could not trace the source of the video, it is clear that the video is old and does not show Pakistan soldiers in Taliban captivity.
Therefore, we conclude that the video is not recent and does not show Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghan armed forces in the ongoing border strife.
