As warplanes fly over Kabul and Islamabad declares “open war,” Pakistan’s information ministry tried a different weapon: satire. It backfired badly. A paid collaboration between the Pakistan Army and government-backed influencers has sparked fury online. The video mocks the Afghan Taliban with a biting question: “Tandoor chalanay k ilawa tum jangain bhi larhtay ho?”
The timing could not be worse. Pakistan is bombing Afghan cities. The defence minister says they are at “open war” . Yet government employees produced a video many call “cringe” and deeply insensitive.
The Viral Video That Went Wrong
The clip features Pakistani influencers. They deliver dialogues targeting the Afghan Taliban. The tandoor reference is deliberate. It plays on stereotypes about Afghan bread-making traditions. But the tone misfired. Viewers did not laugh. They cringed. Social media erupted with criticism. Users called it tone-deaf. They questioned why the government pays for such content while soldiers fight and die at the border.
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Paid by the People: The Information Ministry Connection
This was not amateur content. It was a paid collaboration. The information ministry hired influencers. The army endorsed the message. This raises uncomfortable questions. The same ministry faces scrutiny over spending. In January 2026, lawmakers demanded answers about media funding. They asked for details on payments to influencers and outlets. The ministry marked those questions as “not received”. Now the public sees where some money goes. To videos that mock a neighbouring country during active warfare.
The Backlash: Why Pakistanis Are Angry
The criticism comes from all sides. Many find the video embarrassing. They say it reduces a serious conflict to schoolyard taunts. Others call it insensitive. Real people are dying. On Thursday night alone, clashes killed soldiers on both sides. Afghan officials claim 55 Pakistani soldiers died. Pakistan says 133 Afghan fighters were killed . Bodies are being buried. Families are mourning.
And the government puts out a tandoor joke? Some question the strategy. Does mocking the Taliban help negotiations? Does it boost soldier morale? Most believe it does neither.
The Real War: Bombs, Not Jokes
While influencers film reels, the military fights for real. Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia early Friday . The defence minister declared “open war” on X (formerly Twitter) .
Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border posts Thursday night. Both sides claim heavy enemy casualties . The Torkham border crossing remains a flashpoint. Refugees have been evacuated from camps hit by mortar fire. This is not a video game. It is not content for likes. This is war.
Social Media Reacts
Pakistanis took to X to express their feelings. The responses range from embarrassment to anger. Some defend the video as patriotic. They say it boosts national morale. But they are the minority. Most agree on one thing: this was not the right move at the right time.
Pakistan’s army-influencer video mocking Afghanistan’s Taliban with ‘tandoor’ joke sparks outrage amid real airstrikes and open war. Backlash grows.
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