Claim: A video shows the Interior Minister of Afghanistan Sirajuddin Haqqani, threatening Pakistan amid the recent clashes in February 2026.
Fact: The claim is misleading, as the video is old and unrelated to the recent escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan in February 2026.
On 21 February 2026, an Afghan account on X posted a video with the caption:
#افغان_وزیر_داخلہ| سراج الدين حقاني، نے پاکستان کو سخت انتباہ جاری کرتے ہوئے کہا
“اگر ہمارے بزرگان نے فیصلہ کن اقدامات کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا، تو پاکستان کا کوئی اثر باقی نہیں رہے گا۔”
[Translation: “Sirajuddin Haqqani, has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating:
If our elders decide to take decisive action, there will be no trace left of Pakistan.”]
The video seemingly shows Haqqani, speaking in Pashto, saying:
“Pakistan should address its issues within its home and not impose its problems on Afghanistan. If it continues, then neither will Pakistan remain ‘Pakistan,’ and if anyone invaded Afghan soil, Afghans would stand strongly against them.“
Pak-Afghan “Open War”
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached a critical breaking point in late February 2026, escalating from diplomatic friction into a declared state of “open war”. The conflict intensified following a series of selective airstrikes launched by the Pakistan Air Force on 21 and 22 February against militant hideouts in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost.
In a press release, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that “intelligence-led precision strikes” targeted seven hideouts of Fitna-al-Khawarij (TTP) along the border. Officials state they have “conclusive evidence” that these militants orchestrated recent cross-border terror attacks. “The operations were reportedly directed by leadership and handlers currently stationed within Afghanistan.”
On 26 February, the Taliban launched what they described as a “large-scale offensive operation” against Pakistani military installations along the border, claiming to have captured 19 posts and killed 55 soldiers. In response, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared a state of “open war” on 27 February and initiated “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” (Righteous Fury), targeting strategic sites in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. Asif stated that the country’s “cup of patience had overflowed” and described the Taliban government as a “master proxy” responsible for the ongoing violence.
As the conflict intensified, both nations traded significant claims of casualties and tactical successes. The Pakistani military reported killing at least 274 Taliban fighters and destroying 73 border posts, while the Taliban government claimed to have successfully used weaponized drones against military targets inside Pakistan. However, the number of casualties on both sides cannot be independently verified at this stage. Meanwhile, international actors, including the United Nations has called for immediate de-escalation, expressing deep concern over the mounting civilian death toll and the potential for a humanitarian crisis.
Fact or Fiction?
To investigate, Soch Fact Check conducted a reverse-image-search on the video’s keyframes and the results led to a YouTube video published on 31 October 2025 by RTA Afghanistan, a state-owned television channel in Afghanistan. The same clip as the viral video is featured at the 2:52 mark of the RTA video.
Afghan media outlet, Tolo News, also posted the same video on X on 30 October 2025, and the post’s caption reads, ‘Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, referring to the ongoing negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, called on Pakistan, saying, ‘These are your own problems, Why are they being imposed on us?’’
An Indian news outlet, The Asian Chronicle, also posted the same video as a reel on Instagram on 1 November 2025. The post caption reads, “After talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan failed to yield any concrete results, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani issued a strong warning to Islamabad amid provocative statements by Pakistani ministers.”
The detailed remarks made by Haqqani on this occasion were published by Afghanistan International on 30 October 2025.
Therefore, considering the evidence, Soch Fact Check confirms that the video of Sirajuddin Haqqani warning Pakistan is actually from October 2025. He did not issue this statement amid the recent escalation between the two countries.
Virality
Afghan and Indian users widely shared the video; it can be seen here, here, and here on X. Pakistani journalist Jasmeen Manzoor also shared the video here.
It was also posted here, here, here, here, and here on Facebook.
Conclusion: The video of Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani warning Pakistan is from October 2025. He did not issue this statement amid the February 2026 conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Background image in cover photo: Google Gemini
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