ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Claims by multiple X accounts that the Pakistan army or security forces destroyed solar panels belonging to a poor Baloch farmer proved to be misleading, propaganda.
CLAIM
Multiple X accounts, including @ashoswai (Ashok Swain, a Swedish professor), and others like @GanookJin, claims that, “The Pakistan army or security forces are destroying solar panels belonging to a poor Baloch farmer solely because the farmer refused to cooperate with or hand over property to the military. The narrative frames this as state oppression, hatred toward Baloch people, and hypocrisy by the army claiming to be national saviors.”
It has spread via X posts, often shared by Indian, Afghan, and Baloch activist accounts, portraying it as part of broader human rights abuses in the region.
What credible sources say
No major Pakistani or international news outlet reported the story.
Pakistani authorities, including the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan, and local Police, have been involved in extensive anti-narcotics operations in Balochistan since mid-2025, including the destruction of solar-powered tube wells used to irrigate illegal drug fields.
These operations target drug cultivation eradicated in districts like Kohlu, Qila Abdullah and Duki.
The ANF and FC have held seminars and campaigns highlighting the harms of drug growing, confirming operations dismantle off-grid solar infrastructure funding militancy and terrorism.
No official statements from ISPR or ANF link such actions to non-cooperation unrelated to drugs.
Fact-checking accounts and replies on X (Pakistani users and Baloch fact-check sites) debunk the claim as propaganda by Baloch Militants (e.g., BLA) or foreign actors, clarifying the video shows anti-drug raids, not arbitrary destruction.
Border and narcotics vigilance in Balochistan is routine due to their collision with terrorists (e.g., BLA, Jaish al-Adl) and drug trade from Afghanistan, but no verified reports match the “non-cooperation” narrative or frame it outside anti-narcotics efforts.
Accounts spreading the claim (e.g. @ashoswai) lacks on-ground verification and often align with anti-Pakistan narratives; the video’s context fits documented 2025-2026 drugs eradication drives.
Video reality
The video in the posts is actual footage from a Pakistani anti-narcotics operation in Balochistan, showing FC personnel destroying solar panels used for illegal drugs irrigation tube wells.
It is not stock or representative footage but a clipped segment from raids in arid areas like Kohlu and Qila Abdullah. These operations confirm such infrastructure is targeted post-crop eradication to prevent regrowth.
X post by @ashoswai
(posted Jan 18, 2026): 1:08-minute video of armed personnel smashing panels; no audio or overlays. Replies and fact-checks reveal it’s from ANF/FC ops against narcotics networks.
Similar X posts (e.g. @GanookJin): Reuse the same or edited clip, claiming “hatred toward Baloch people” without evidence. Common in propaganda shares, debunked as part of larger anti-drug campaign.
Verdict
Misleading, Propaganda
The destruction of solar panels is real / part of legitimate anti-narcotics operations targeting illegal drugs, not punishment for a farmer’s non-cooperation.
The claim fabricates motives to portray state oppression, originating from unverified activist accounts and fitting disinformation patterns by Fitna Ul Hind, Indian, or Afghan sources to fuel anti-Pakistan sentiment and strain regional ties.
Official sources confirm these ops aim to curb drug-funded militancy; no evidence supports the “non-cooperation” angle.
Public Advisory
Avoid sharing unverified videos or claims unless verified through ISPR, ANF Pakistan. Pakistan prioritizes counter-narcotics, regional stability, and development in Balochistan for all citizens.
