Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Visuals Claiming To Show ‘Pakistan’s Airstrike On Afghanistan’

Amid reports of Pakistan carrying out an airstrike on Afghanistan on the intervening night of October 9-10, 2025, social media platforms were flooded with videos and images claiming to show explosions in the Taliban-led country. Newschecker examined two such visuals and found that they were being shared out of context.

Explosion heard in Kabul: Taliban Spokesperson

In an X post, Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid said, “The sound of an explosion was heard in Kabul. However, there is no cause for concern. Investigations are underway, and no damage has been reported so far.”

Visual 1

Video shows multiple explosions in Afghanistan after Pakistan Air Force’s reported attack.

Evidence

• A Google Lens search of keyframes from the viral video led to an X post by Kabul News, dated October 23, 2023, which featured the same footage.
• Further, a Yandex search connected the clip to a Sputnik News report dated October 13, 2023, describing Israeli airstrikes on Hamas targets,  not events in Afghanistan. The report mentioned that the Israeli army attacked “underground tunnels, military complexes and posts, as well as the residences of senior Hamas officials.”

This confirms the video predates the alleged Pakistani airstrikes and is unrelated to them.

Also Read: Video Claiming To Show Road Collapse in Mumbai Actually From Bangkok

Visual 2

Image shows a massive blast in Kabul following Pakistan’s reported attack.

Evidence

• A Google Lens search traced the image to a Shafaq News report from August 7, 2025, which covered explosions at a Syrian army site in Latakia, reportedly caused by an Israeli strike.
• The same image appeared in an Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) report from the same date, identifying it as a scene from Syria. 

We were not independently able to ascertain exact details of the image. However, it predates the recent reports of Pakistan’s strikes on Afghanistan. 

Also Read: 2025 Bihar Polls – Did Crowd Raise ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Slogans Against Nitish Kumar and Samrat Choudhary?

Verdict

Old visuals from unrelated incidents are being falsely shared as scenes from Pakistan’s reported airstrike on Afghanistan in October 2025.

FAQs

Q1. Are these visuals recent or from the reported Pakistan airstrike?
No. The visuals are old and unrelated. They predate the reported Pakistan airstrike on Afghanistan by months or even years, as verified through reverse image and keyframe searches.

Q2. How did Newschecker find out the visuals were misleading?
We used Google Lens and Yandex reverse image searches to trace the original sources of the videos and images. Each was found to have appeared online much earlier in unrelated news reports from other regions.

Q3. Why do such misleading visuals spread so fast during breaking news?
During developing or tense situations, users often share dramatic visuals without checking authenticity. Old clips resurface quickly as people try to fill information gaps before official details emerge, fueling misinformation.

Sources
X Post By Kabul News, Dated October 23, 2023
Report By Sputnik News, Dated October 13, 2023
Report By Shafaq News, Dated August 7, 2025
Report By Afghan Voice Agency, Dated August 7, 2025