SOURCE: AFI
A viral video circulating on social media has captured a bizarre incident in Sialkot, Pakistan, where local citizens were seen attempting to damage Turkish-made Byker YIHA III Kamikaze drones, mistakenly believing them to be Indian drones. The footage, which has garnered significant attention amidst the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, has triggered a wave of humorous reactions from Indian netizens, who have taken to platforms like X to mock the incident.
The video, which surfaced earlier today, shows a group of Pakistani citizens in Sialkot attacking a downed Byker YIHA III drone with sticks, stones, and even slippers. According to posts on X, the drone, a Turkish-made loitering munition supplied to Pakistan, reportedly malfunctioned and crashed within Pakistani territory shortly after being launched toward India. Unaware of its origins, the locals assumed it was an Indian kamikaze drone and began to “neutralize” it, with some even claiming on social media that they had shot down an Indian Rafale jet—leading to widespread amusement online.
The Byker YIHA III, a combat-proven drone used by the Pakistani military, is designed for precision strikes and has been deployed in conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, and now by Pakistan against India. However, this incident highlights a lack of awareness among the local population about their own military’s equipment, adding a layer of irony to the escalating tensions.
The downed drone in Sialkot appears to be part of Pakistan’s failed attempt to breach Indian airspace, as several of these drones were either intercepted by Indian forces or, as in this case, malfunctioned before crossing the border. The Indian Army’s Air Defence units have been on high alert, neutralizing numerous aerial threats across Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan.
Indian netizens wasted no time in turning the incident into a source of online entertainment. Posts on X describe the scene as a “comedy of errors,” with users poking fun at the Pakistani citizens for attacking their own military asset. One user highlighted Pakistan’s “best defense system” as being “slippers,” while another quipped that Pakistan has a “history of bombing its own country.” The hashtags #IndiaPakistanWar and #IndiaPakistanWar2025 began trending, with memes and sarcastic comments flooding social media.
For India, the viral video serves as a propaganda win, boosting morale among netizens who see it as evidence of disarray on the Pakistani side. However, it also highlights the risks of escalating tensions, where misinformation can fuel public sentiment and further inflame an already volatile situation.
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