Fact Check: Video shows Islamabad under attack during Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict? No, here’s the truth
A video claiming to show Islamabad burning amid the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict is being widely shared on social media.
By - M Ramesh Naik
Claim:The video shows Islamabad on fire during the ongoing Pakistan - Afghanistan conflict.
Fact:False. The video shows a major fire that broke out in the Zaraib (Zarayeb) area of Mansheyet Nasser (Cairo’s Garbage City), Egypt, in January 2026.
Amid this backdrop, a nighttime video showing flames engulfing buildings along a hillside began circulating on social media, with users claiming it depicts Islamabad under attack.
An X user shared the clip with the caption: “Attack on Islamabad. Islamabad is burning, this war is not going to stop. Pakistan has made a very big mistake.”(Archive)
Similar posts can be seen here and here.(Archive1, Archive2)
Fact Check
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to the same video carried in a report published by Lovin Cairo on January 29, 2026, titled: “‘No Deaths or Injuries Reported Yet’ A Fire Broke Out in Zarayeb Area of Mansheyet Nasser.”
We also found the same video embedded in the report shared as an Instagram reel on January 29 by the verified account of Lovin Cairo. The reel features the viral footage and additionally shows daytime visuals of rescue and firefighting operations at the site.
We also found additional social media posts reporting the same incident. One such post was shared by a profile named El-Shai – الشاي, whose bio describes it as Egypt’s lifestyle and entertainment online magazine and platform with over 105,000 followers.
The post featured the same visuals as the viral clip, albeit from a slightly different angle, and also showed rescue operations underway at the site.
According to the post, a major fire broke out in Mokattam’s Zaraaib area of Mansheyet Nasser, sending thick smoke across the neighbourhood and causing alarm among residents. The blaze reportedly started in one residential building before spreading to three nearby homes. Civil Defence forces brought the fire under control, while Egyptian Red Crescent teams provided first aid to individuals affected by smoke inhalation.
The viral video does not show Islamabad during the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict. It is an older clip from a fire in Cairo’s Mansheyet Nasser recorded in January 2026.
Therefore, the claim is false.
