Pakistan Ministry Denies Afghan Claims Of Shot Down Jet

On February 28, 2026, the Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting firmly rejected claims that a Pakistani fighter jet had been shot down in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, and that its pilot was captured. The ministry described these allegations as "totally untrue" and attributed them to Afghan Taliban officials, which were amplified by Indian media. "No independent international media outlet or defense monitoring agency has verified the claim," stated the ministry, emphasizing that all Pakistani Air Force aircraft are accounted for and no losses have been reported. This assertion was supported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which urged citizens to refrain from sharing unverified information amidst heightened geopolitical tensions, stating, "Sharing any fake news or false information is liable to legal action in accordance with applicable laws."