FACT CHECK: Video does not show bodies of Pakistan soldiers killed in Afghanistan being returned

Social media users shared a post claiming to show the bodies of Pakistani soldiers being repatriated from Afghanistan after border clashes.

The reports circulated after Afghanistan and Pakistan engaged in border clashes, resulting in casualties on both sides. The two countries reached a mutual ceasefire after talks in Doha, Qatar.

Several India based or supportive social media accounts spread disinformation, claiming a large number of Pakistani soldiers were killed by the Afghan Taliban in border skirmishes.

A social media user shared a post captioned, “114 bodies of Pakistani soldiers reached Islamabad in last 72 hours. But Pak establishment denies any loss during Afghanistan and Pakistan skirmish and once again pushed it fallen ones into ignominy.”

The post was accompanied by a video of men in uniform caring a casket draped in the Pakistani flag.

Fact Check Pakistan found the video is old and unrelated.

The actual video shows that bodies of Pakistani passengers killed in a bus accident in Iran being returned home. The incident occurred in August 2024 when 28 Shia pilgrims heading to Iraq were killed in bus accident in Iran.

A closer look shows the flag of Iran on the casket and inscriptions in Farsi. The video was originally posted by Associated Press news agency on YouTube on August 8, 2024.

The claim that video shows that video shows the bodies of Pakistani soldiers being returned from Afghanistan is false.