Fact check: Around 15,000 Taliban fighters are reportedly marching from Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat towards the Mir Ali border adjoining Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results

The analyses present conflicting assessments of the reported Taliban fighter movement. While some sources confirm the movement of 15,000 fighters as a direct response to Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province that killed 46 civilians, others indicate this specific number cannot be independently verified. What is confirmed is the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban government.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial contextual elements:

• Pakistan's recent expulsion of 500,000 undocumented Afghan migrants and implementation of stricter visa policies
• The presence of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with 6,000-6,500 fighters operating in Afghanistan, which is distinct from the Afghan Taliban
• The historical irony that Pakistan previously supported and nurtured the Taliban during their rise to power
• A 56% increase in terror attacks within Pakistan during 2023
• Pakistan's recent trade restrictions against Afghanistan

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement presents the troop movement in isolation, without acknowledging:

• The complexity of the situation, including Pakistan's airstrikes that allegedly killed civilians
• The distinction between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, which could lead to confusion about which group is actually moving troops
• The possibility that the number (15,000) might be inflated or decreased for strategic purposes by either side
• Both Pakistani and Afghan authorities have been known to present conflicting narratives about militant movements for their own strategic interests

The situation benefits multiple parties: The Taliban can use it to demonstrate strength to their domestic audience, while Pakistan's military establishment can use the threat to justify increased defense spending and military operations in the border regions.