Claim: Footage shows the precarious security situation in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 31 July, following the launch of Operation Sarbakaf.
Fact: The video predates 31 July and is not connected to the security situation in Bajaur following the launch of Operation Sarbakaf.
Posts circulating online shared a video claiming that it shows the precarious security situation in Bajaur on 31 July 2025. The footage shows two security personnel standing on the roof of a building with a crowd gathered below that appears to be in disarray, seemingly trying to escape shelling.
One such post (archive) dated 31 July reads [translated from Urdu into English]: “Situation in Bajaur today #BajaurUnderStateAttack”.
Another post states: “The situation in Bajaur is not good. No operation can be successful without taking the people into confidence.”
These posts probably refer to the precarious security situation in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following the launch of the Pakistan military’s Operation Sarbakaf targeting militants in the area in late July 2025.
This article is only fact-checking the claim that this video was taken recently in Bajaur on 31 July 2025.
What is happening in Bajaur?
Pakistani security forces resumed a targeted military operation in Lowi Mamund tehsil in Bajaur on 12 August after peace talks in the region fell through.
Multiple rounds of negotiations were held between local militant commanders and the Bajaur Amn (peace) Jirga for the relocation of militants to Afghanistan.
The talks occurred after both sides agreed to a ceasefire to resolve the conflict through dialogue. The ceasefire temporarily halted “Operation Sarbarkaf”, which sources say was launched against militants in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 29 July 2025.
Security forces said the operation began in response to a terrorist attack which took place on 27 July on the police and an FC post in the Thangi area in Bajaur, which was ultimately foiled.
As the operation began in July, the local administration imposed a three-day curfew in 16 places in the Bajaur district, restricting all kinds of movement.
The military campaign is reportedly aimed at targeting the “Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well as the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP), the local affiliate of the transnational Islamic State group, regrouping in the area.”
The conflict has displaced some 100,000 people, according to the AP’s report which quoted a government administrator Shahhid Ali. KP’s provincial government announced PKR 50,000 in compensation for the displaced families.
As of the time of writing, casualty figures for the security forces or militants are not available. However, on 13 August, Dawn reported that one soldier was killed and 19 others were injured when terrorists attacked the vehicle of the security forces amid the ongoing operation.
Fact or Fiction?
Reverse-searching keyframes from the video shows that it is not from 31 July 2025, and therefore, cannot be linked to the security operation launched in late July.
A YouTube channel called “Islamic History” uploaded a video (archive) on 11 July 2025. The text embedded at both the top and bottom of the video reads [translated from Urdu]: “Cruelty on Pathans” and “Sadly, no elders are left”. This footage aligns with the clip from the claim, indicating it predates the 31 July date.
A similar video (archive) appeared on TikTok by the user “sudais_afghan_” on 10 July. Scenes in this clip also match the footage from the claim, confirming the video is not from 31 July 2025.
While the above posts confirm the footage is old, Soch Fact Check also found clips indicating it likely shows a funeral procession of the Awami National Party’s Maulana Khan Zeb, held in Bajaur in early July 2025.
A Facebook user, “Niamat Roshan”, posted a reel (archive) on 11 July of crowds gathered in the same area shown in the YouTube and TikTok videos (mentioned above). However, it seems to be filmed from a different angle. When translated from Urdu to English, the description of the reel states:
“Today, when security forces from Scouts started firing and shelling the people, including the funeral procession of the respected martyr Maulana Khan Zeb, it was a very painful and infuriating atmosphere, and the people were extremely helpless.”
This Facebook clip, then, at timestamp 0:04, shows protesters surrounding a coffin carrying a dead body in front of the barbed wire.
Areas depicted in YouTube and TikTok videos match the Facebook video that links the incident to the death of Maulana Khan Zeb.
Similarly, YouTube clips here and here, from 11 July, and a TikTok video from 10 July, further indicate that the video is likely related to the funeral of the ANP leader.
On 10 July, unidentified gunmen killed ANP’s Maulana Khan Zeb in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assailant also shot two people dead, one of whom was a policeman.
The ANP leader was killed while campaigning for the 13 July peace parade — organised to demand an end to lawlessness and violence in the area — according to Dawn, which cited the Bajaur District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafiq.
Soch Fact Check, therefore, concludes that the video predates 31 July and does not show the security situation in the area at the time of Operation Sarbakaf’s launch.
Virality
The video was shared on X here, here, here, here, here and here.
On Facebook, the video appeared here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
The video was posted on Instagram here, here, here, here, here.
On TikTok here.
Conclusion: The video predates 31 July and does not show the security situation in Bajaur at the time Operation Sarbakaf was launched.
Background image in cover photo: Tribal News Network
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