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Dawn refutes fake report claiming TTP stole PAF F-16 jet

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 May 2025 |  JP Staff Report

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Dawn refutes fake report claiming TTP stole PAF F-16 jet
Dawn issued a statement refuting a false report about the TTP stealing a PAF F-16 fighter jet. The newspaper emphasized the need for verification before sharing such information.

ISLAMABAD-Dawn newspaper on Friday firmly denied publishing any report suggesting that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had stolen a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 fighter jet.

The newspaper clarified that a screenshot circulating widely on X (formerly Twitter) is fake and digitally manipulated. According to Dawn, the doctored image falsely attributed a report to Dawn.com amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The misleading post was shared by an Indian account and garnered over 263,000 views. It included a fabricated caption that read, “TTP has stolen a Pakistan Air Force fighter jet. If true, this marks a shocking breach in military security.”

Dawn stressed that no such report was ever published on its website, nor was it covered by any credible or mainstream news outlet.

An analysis using the AI-powered forensic tool FotoForensics revealed visible signs of image manipulation—particularly blurriness and distortion around the text—strong indicators of digital tampering.

The newspaper urged the public to verify information before sharing it, especially in times of heightened regional sensitivity.

ڈان Ù†Û' Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¾ÛŒ Ú©Û' ایف-16 چوری کرنÛ' Ú©ÛŒ جھوٹی خبر Ú©ÛŒ تردید کر دی

اسلام آباد: پاکستان Ú©Û' موقر اخبار ڈان Ù†Û' جمعہ Ú©Û' روز اس جعلی خبر Ú©ÛŒ سختی سÛ' تردید Ú©ÛŒ ہÛ' جس میں دعویٰ کیا گیا تھا کہ کالعدم تحریک طالبان پاکستان (Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¾ÛŒ) Ù†Û' پاکستان ایئر فورس (Ù¾ÛŒ اÛ' ایف) کا ایک ایف-16 طیارہ چوری کر لیا ہÛ'Û"

اخبار Ù†Û' وضاحت Ú©ÛŒ کہ سوشل میڈیا پلیٹ فارم ایکس (سابقہ ٹوئٹر) پر گردش کرنÛ' والا اسکرین شاٹ جعلی اور ڈیجیٹل طور پر تبدیل شدہ ہÛ'Û" ڈان Ú©Û' مطابق، یہ جعلی خبر پلوامہ میں دہشتگرد حملÛ' Ú©Û' بعد پاک بھارت کشیدگی Ú©Û' دوران ایک بھارتی اکاؤنٹ Ú©ÛŒ طرف سÛ' شیئر Ú©ÛŒ گئی، جس میں دعویٰ کیا گیا کہ یہ رپورٹ Dawn.com Ù†Û' شائع Ú©ÛŒ ہÛ'Û"

یہ گمراہ Ú©Ù† پوسٹ 2 لاکھ 63 ہزار سÛ' زائد مرتبہ دیکھی گئی اور اس میں یہ جھوٹا کیپشن شامل تھا: "Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¹ÛŒ Ù¾ÛŒ Ù†Û' پاکستان ایئر فورس کا جنگی طیارہ چوری کر لیاÛ" اگر یہ سچ ہÛ' تو یہ عسکری سیکیورٹی میں حیرت انگیز خلا ہÛ'Û""

ڈان Ù†Û' زور دÛ' کر کہا کہ نہ تو اس Ù†Û' ایسی کوئی رپورٹ شائع Ú©ÛŒ ہÛ'ØŒ نہ ہی کسی معتبر یا مرکزی میڈیا ادارÛ' Ù†Û' اس خبر Ú©Ùˆ رپورٹ کیاÛ"

AI ٹول FotoForensics Ú©Û' ذریعÛ' Ú©ÛŒ گئی جانچ میں تصویر Ú©Û' ارد گرد دھندلا پن اور مسخ شدگی سامنÛ' آئی، جو واضح طور پر ڈیجیٹل Ú†Ú¾ÛŒÚ' چھاÚ' Ú©ÛŒ علامات ہیںÛ"

اخبار Ù†Û' عوام سÛ' اپیل Ú©ÛŒ ہÛ' کہ وہ ایسی خبروں Ú©ÛŒ تصدیق Ú©ÛŒÛ' بغیر انہیں شیئر نہ کریں، خصوصاً ان مواقع پر جب علاقائی صورتحال حساس ہوÛ"

Key Points

  • Dawn newspaper denied a report of TTP stealing PAF F-16.
  • A manipulated screenshot falsely attributed the report to Dawn.
  • The claim circulated amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India.
  • FotoForensics analysis revealed signs of image tampering.
  • Dawn urged the public to verify information before sharing.

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