A video widely circulated on social media during the recent escalation of tensions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, claiming that Afghan forces had shot down a Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jet, has been found to be misleading and likely manipulated using artificial intelligence tools. Visual examination suggests that while the base footage appears authentic, key elements were digitally altered to create the impression that the wreckage belonged to a Pakistani F-16.
The video shows burning aircraft debris at night carrying Pakistani markings along with the tail number “85510.” However, analysts and online observers quickly identified inconsistencies. The aircraft’s size, structure, and design do not match the characteristics of an F-16 fighter jet, and the serial number displayed does not correspond to any known aircraft in Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. These discrepancies indicate that AI-based editing or digital modification was used to insert identifying details onto otherwise unrelated footage.
The circulation of the altered video coincided with a sharp escalation in hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan conducted overnight strikes in several Afghan cities, including Kabul, as cross-border clashes intensified into one of the most serious confrontations between the two countries in recent months. Pakistani officials claimed that operations targeting militant positions killed 133 Taliban fighters, wounded more than 200, and destroyed multiple posts, though these figures remain independently unverified.
Taliban authorities disputed Pakistan’s account and alleged that Pakistani aircraft struck locations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, while also claiming casualties among Pakistani forces during retaliatory attacks along the border. The confrontation followed earlier Pakistani air raids that Islamabad said were aimed at Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State-linked camps in eastern Afghanistan, prompting warnings of retaliation from Taliban officials.
The emergence of AI-manipulated footage amid active conflict has highlighted growing concerns over misinformation during geopolitical crises, where altered visuals can rapidly shape public perception and amplify tensions before verification is possible.
