By The South Asia Times

KABUL/ISLAMABAD  - The Afghan Taliban's latest claim of successful drone strikes on Pakistani military targets in Kohat has been thoroughly debunked -- but beyond the immediate falsehood lies a deeper crisis, the erosion of trust in Afghan official sources and once-respected media outlets now accused of amplifying propaganda.

On Friday, the Taliban Ministry of Defense announced with great fanfare that its air force had conducted retaliatory drone and airstrikes targeting the Kohat military fortress, a war command center, and other installations, alleging "heavy human and material losses." TOLO News, Afghanistan's leading English-language broadcaster, amplified the claims as fact.

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting swiftly dismantled the narrative. Three rudimentary drones -- off-the-shelf observation models modified to carry explosives -- were brought down by electronic warfare countermeasures, injuring two civilians from falling debris. No military targets were hit. No losses were suffered.

Kabul-based political analyst, whose last name is Hashmi, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The South Asia Times that the Taliban's pattern of exaggeration and falsehood is nothing new.

"This is not a new thing, the Taliban speaking fake news and telling lies," Hashmi said. "Those journalists who were covering the war against terror at that time know that the Afghan Taliban were also speaking lies back then. For example, if they killed one soldier, they would issue a statement claiming they killed 50 US and Afghan soldiers. This is their old trend, speaking lies."

The analyst noted that the tactic serves multiple purposes: boosting morale among supporters, intimidating opponents, and creating a narrative of strength that may not reflect ground realities.

- TOLO News: From respected outlet to propaganda platform?

More troubling, according to observers, is the role of TOLO News, which for years was regarded as one of Afghanistan's most professional media outlets. During the two-decade war, TOLO provided independent coverage and was frequently targeted by the Taliban for its journalism. Today, it operates under Taliban rule.

"But TOLO News, which was regarded as a good media outlet, is now known for speaking fake news and propaganda," Hashmi said. "They have lost their credibility."

The latest incident follows a pattern. Recently, TOLO and other Afghan outlets reported that Taliban forces had shot down a Pakistani fighter jet in Jalalabad and captured its pilot alive.

The story was broadcast as breaking news across Afghan and Indian media. Hours later, it collapsed: no wreckage, no pilot, no evidence. The man captured was an Afghan civilian practicing parachute jumping.

The Taliban later suspended an official and admitted the information was false -- but not before the narrative had spread worldwide.

Analysts point to a troubling coordination between Afghan Taliban sources and Indian media outlets, which have amplified unverified claims with little scrutiny.

"Now Taliban and TOLO have joined hands with Indian media, which is already known for fake news and propaganda," Hashmi said.

The Pakistani jet shootdown claim was widely carried by India Today and other Indian outlets without independent verification. Friday's drone strike claim received similar treatment.

"The world has seen this pattern repeatedly," Hashmi added.

"Last week, they claimed shooting down a Pakistani fighter jet, while on the ground, there was nothing. Later, when international media asked the Taliban to show the wreckage and the pilot, they suspended an official and said he gave fake news. Now this again."

The repeated circulation of false claims raises fundamental questions about which sources can be trusted in the increasingly complex information war surrounding the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.

For international readers and media organizations seeking accurate reporting, the situation presents significant challenges. Official Afghan sources have proven unreliable. TOLO News, once a beacon of independent journalism, now functions under Taliban oversight. Indian outlets continue to amplify claims without verification.

"The Taliban Ministry of Defense and TOLO News claims are fabricated and designed to create a false narrative of military success, boosting domestic morale and keeping the Afghan population misinformed," Pakistan's Fact Checker concluded.

The propaganda battle unfolds against a backdrop of real conflict. Since late February, Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have engaged in cross-border hostilities following Taliban attacks on Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan's Operation Ghazab lil Haq has targeted militant infrastructure inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban have denied harboring anti-Pakistan groups.

As Hashmi put it: "When you have a history of lies, why would anyone believe you now?"