Kabul

Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern part of the country, Kabul has a long and complex history, serving as a strategic and cultural center in the region for over 3,000 years. The city has been at the crossroads of various civilizations, empires, and trade routes, making it a melting pot of cultures and a focal point in Afghanistan's history.

Kabul has witnessed significant turmoil, particularly in recent decades, due to the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, civil war in the 1990s, and the subsequent rise of the Taliban. After the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, Kabul became the center of Afghanistan's government and reconstruction efforts. However, the city has continued to experience violence, insurgent attacks, and instability.

In August 2021, Kabul was thrust into the global spotlight when the Taliban recaptured the city following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government. This event triggered a chaotic and dramatic evacuation of foreign nationals and Afghans who had worked with international forces, and it marked a significant shift in Afghanistan's political landscape.

In August 2022, a viral image was being circulated by several media outlets, including The Guardian, ANI, and India Today, claiming it showed a recent blast in Kabul.

BOOM found that the image was actually from 2019, when Taliban attackers bombed a building in Kabul, Afghanistan. The photo was mistakenly shared as a recent event, leading to misinformation about the current situation in Kabul.