Claim: An image shows a child killed in the recent bombing in Tirah Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fact: The image of the child predates the incident and appeared as early as May 2025.
On 22 September, an X user posted a photo (archive) purportedly showing a child killed in the recent bombing that was reportedly carried out by Pakistani jets. “Pakistan Air Force has killed innocent civilians in KPK. More than 20 civilians have been killed. A silent Genocide by Pakistan continues,” reads the caption of the post.
Pakistani jets seemingly carried out aerial bombing in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, resulting in casualties that included civilians, on 22 September. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded an inquiry into the attack.
Locals who witnessed the incident say that Pakistani jets were responsible for the strike.
However, authorities have denied the reports, claiming that the explosion was purportedly caused by “bomb-making material” stored in a compound by the Pakistani Taliban (banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan).
Currently, there is an ongoing operation against the TTP near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by the Pakistani army.
This article only fact-checks if the image of the child is related to the recent bombing in Tirah.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched the image and found that it appeared as early as May 2025.
A Facebook user posted the exact image in the claim on 7 May, with the following description [translated from Urdu]:
“This child has been left by someone in Afghanistan’s border Torkham, who is seriously ill and is currently under treatment in Torkham Hospital. All friends are requested to share this post in as many groups as possible for the sake of Allah so that this innocent child can be found. May your parents get it. May Allah reward you.”
Another user posted the same photo (archive) a day earlier, on 6 May, with a similar caption to the one mentioned above.
Both posts confirm that the image predates the bombing in Tirah Valley which occurred on 22 September 2025.
Soch Fact Check, therefore, concludes that the image of the child shared in the claim is not connected to the recent bombing in Tirah Valley.
Virality
The X post was viewed 200,900 views and was liked 8,900 times.
It also appeared on X here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
On Facebook, it appeared here, here, here (first image in the collage).
The image was also shared on Threads here (archive)
Conclusion: An image circulating online, which allegedly shows a child killed in the recent Tirah Valley bombing, predates the incident and, therefore, is unrelated to it.
Background image in cover photo: Wikipedia
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