Fact Check: Viral Video of PAF Fighter Jet Drills Is Old, Unrelated to Current India-Pakistan Tensions

Claim:
A viral video on Facebook claims to show Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets preparing for emergency action amid the recent India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Fact:
The video is from October 2020 and depicts a routine PAF exercise — not related to the current situation.

The Viral Claim

Following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives, social media has been flooded with alarming posts. A Facebook video showing fighter jets landing and taking off from a motorway claimed that the Pakistan Air Force was on high alert, “ready for any emergency.”

The post garnered over 16,700 likes and 137 shares, while another outlet, Pashto One, reposted the same clip with 65,000 views, further fueling anxiety amid the already tense atmosphere between India and Pakistan.

Several other Facebook accounts also shared the same footage without providing any context, date, or location details.

The Truth Behind the Video

A reverse image search traced the footage back to an article published on October 7, 2020, by The Express Tribune, titled “Watch: PAF fighter jets land on Islamabad-Lahore motorway.”

The 2020 report detailed that the PAF was conducting an exercise to practice wartime air operations using highways as alternate runways, a common military preparedness drill worldwide.
The original video, sourced from the Pakistan Air Force’s official YouTube channel, matches the viral footage exactly.

Thus, the fact-check confirms that:

• The video is from October 2020, not 2025.
• It depicts a standard military exercise, not a response to current hostilities.
• The social media claims are misleading in the context of current India-Pakistan tensions.

Conclusion

Verdict: ❌ Misleading — Old video from 2020, not related to current events.

The viral posts suggesting that Pakistan Air Force jets are landing on highways in response to the latest tensions are false. The video is old and unrelated to the present situation.
Spreading outdated footage without context at a time of heightened regional stress risks causing unnecessary panic and fear of escalation.

Always verify such claims from trusted sources before believing or sharing them.