Were Pakistani Children Smuggled to Afghanistan in An Oil Tanker: Truth or Fake?

A video viral on X (Formerly Twitter) with the caption “A tanker full of children abducted from different cities of Pakistan was caught on its way to Afghanistan, Share the post so that the heirs can identify their children.” showing visuals of kids being taken out of an oil tanker.

Another X user shared the same video with the caption, “A tanker full of children kidnapped from different cities of Pakistan was caught on its way to Afghanistan, share as much as possible so that everyone can recognize the children.”

The claim gained traction on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), the claim was shared here, here, here, and here gaining upwards of more than 30K views.

To verify the claim’s authenticity, a comprehensive fact-checking process was initiated. A reverse imaging technique was employed, revealing that the shared video dates back to December 2018. Initially, it was claimed that the tanker, found in Quetta, Pakistan, was involved in human trafficking. However, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan refuted these allegations, stating there was no evidence to suggest the children were being trafficked or that the video had any connection to such activities.

The viral claim appears to have been shared with the intent to fuel hate against Afghanistan and to spread misinformation inciting panic among the public.

Conclusion

Our fact check confirms that the claim regarding Pakistani children being smuggled to Afghanistan in an oil tanker is unfounded. The video, while real, has been misrepresented in the context of child trafficking. The Federal Investigation Agency’s denial of such incidents further clarifies that the narrative attached to the video is false.