As fresh clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan fuel regional tensions, DW’s factchecking team has been tracking several cases of online disinformation from both countries. Here’s one example:
Claim: “A drone has struck a nuclear energy center in Islamabad,” according to a post on X (archived here) called “Islamabad Post” that looks like a genuine media account.
The post, which has been viewed over 300,000 times, is accompanied by an image of a nuclear explosion showing a mushroom cloud explosion. The post does not specify which nuclear energy center may have been affected.
DW Fact check: False
By carrying out a reverse-image search of the explosion, the picture can be tracked back to iStock, a provider of stock images by Getty Images. It was uploaded to iStock in 2018, so before the current conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Moreover, the claim of a major nuclear explosion in Islamabad is not supported by major, credible media outlets.
The claim’s source is also suspicious: the Islamabad Post X account portrays itself as “the voice of the region” and is verified. The account, however, only has roughly 7,000 followers. It presents a mix of news items and opinions, and has only been around since last year. Its posts are also not linked to a website where further information like sources can be gathered.
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