CHITRAL, Pakistan: On September 6, a significant number of terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan launched an attack on two military checkposts in the Chitral district of Pakistan. Subsequently, unsubstantiated claims circulated online asserting that the terrorists had seized control of two villages and multiple military checkposts in Chitral.
Claim
“Seventy Pakistani army officers have been killed,” wrote a social media user on X, formerly known as Twitter, on September 7, “While two villages and several military checkposts have been captured.”
“The Taliban have attacked the district of Chitral,” alleged a post on September 9, “As per the latest information, forty Pakistani soldiers have been killed, ninety two captured and two villages are also under their control.”
Fact
Four officials in Chitral have officially confirmed that no village or area in Chitral is presently under the control of terrorists. They falsified the online claims and clarified that five soldiers lost their lives in the attack — not the exaggerated figures of 40 or 70 circulating on the internet.
He further rubbished any area was under the control of the terrorists.
“The terrorists were pushed back [across the border into Afghanistan] on the same day,” he added.
Dr. Muhammad Atif Jalib, the assistant commissioner headquarters in Chitral, also supported Khan’s statement.
“All the information [about the areas being captured] is fake news,” he said.
Furthermore, Ikram Ullah, the district police officer in Lower Chitral, reassured that all markets and schools were open
“There is nothing to worry about,” he added, “I am saying this responsibly, as a senior police officer.”
Usama Cheema, the assistant commissioner in the Darosh Tehsil in Chitral, also rejected the claim that terrorists had taken control of any area in the mountainous district.
