Findings by Voice of Hindukush indicate that several videos produced by the so-called Freedom Front were filmed in Chitral and other areas under the control of Pakistan’s military regime. These videos are then circulated on social media, falsely claiming to have been recorded in Afghanistan, with the aim of propaganda, influencing public opinion, and pleasing Pakistan.
Recently, several members of the self-proclaimed group released a video claiming they were present in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan Province and fighting against the Afghan government. The group also published another video claiming it had launched rocket attacks on security force outposts in the Alingar district of Laghman Province. However, based on information obtained by Voice of Hindukush and a technical analysis of the footage, it was determined that these videos were actually filmed in the mountains of Chitral and other locations, in coordination with the local security agencies of Pakistan’s military regime, before being released.
Chitral’s geographical location is connected to Afghanistan through the Hypothetical Durand Line, and the mountains on both sides are nearly identical in appearance, color, and structure because they are part of the same Hindu Kush mountain range. The Freedom Front has exploited this similarity to produce and distribute fabricated propaganda videos. The video claiming to show the alleged attack in Alingar, Laghman, is also fabricated and was not filmed in Afghanistan. In the footage, the attackers fire rockets without clearly showing the intended target, nor is there any evidence of return fire. Although the attackers are shown firing from a high mountain position, the group’s statement claims that the engagement lasted several minutes, yet the video shows no signs of any response or exchange of fire.
Such staged propaganda activities have reportedly increased after the Afghan government’s air force carried out deadly strikes last week against the headquarters and hideouts of armed militias and the ISIS group operating under the control of the Pakistani military. According to the report, the results of those strikes demonstrated that Pakistan has provided these groups with extensive resources, safe havens, and comprehensive support on its territory, enabling them to easily produce and disseminate staged propaganda videos from within Pakistan.
Experts believe that the primary objective behind these fabricated videos is to distort the facts and wage psychological warfare. Opposition groups seek to confuse the Afghan public and attract support through such propaganda. At the same time, these staged efforts are intended to portray the central government as weak, whereas in reality they are merely political tactics and deception that have no genuine presence on the ground.