A viral video purportedly on X (formerly Twitter) is shared with the captions “No one can go out of Pakistan and no one can go inside Pakistan without our consent, Excerpts from a press conference” The claim was widely shared by Pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters. The shared video shows a visual of a remote control drone being used to carry solar plates with a caption (Solar Plates, Iran to Pakistan) alleging smuggling of goods mocking a statement made by Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, where he claimed nothing can enter or leave Pakistan without permission from officials.
Another X user posted an image with the same caption, the shared image reads “There are 3 ways of smuggling, the border, the sea, and the airport, and the security of these three is not with the public.” Indirectly criticizing the Pakistan Army for smuggling.
The claim gained traction on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), the claim was shared here, here, here and here accumulating more than 130K views. On Facebook here, here, here, here, and here
To verify the claim’s authenticity, a comprehensive fact-checking process was initiated. A reverse imaging technique was employed, revealing that the shared was posted on the YouTube channel “China Focus” on February 13, 2024, with the title “Drone used to install solar panels” This indicates that the footage was not related to smuggling activities but rather depicted the innovative use of drones in solar panel installations.
The viral claim appears to have been shared with the intent to discredit the Pakistan Army by alleging its inability to prevent smuggling, using a video out of its original context to create a misleading narrative.
Conclusion
Our fact check confirms that the viral video and image alleging the smuggling of solar plates from Iran to Pakistan using drones are misleading. The original video was related to a technological application for installing solar panels, not smuggling. This instance underscores the importance of verifying the context and source of social media content before sharing, especially when it involves sensitive allegations against national institutions.
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