An previous information report in regards to the head of the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) visiting Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 240 million folks, has resurfaced in deceptive on-line posts. The video of IAEA Director Basic Rafael Mariano Grossi – which featured a “breaking information” banner – was initially broadcast by a neighborhood information outlet in 2023. In response to the posts, Pakistan's Ministry of International Affairs mentioned he has not visited the South Asian nation. in March 2024.
“IAEA Director Basic Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Pakistan, discussing nuclear cooperation and local weather change mitigation,” reads a caption alongside this Fb video posted on March 15, 2024.
That includes a emblem for native information paper GNN, the “breaking information” report reveals the top of the UN nuclear company shaking fingers with the previous overseas minister. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The put up continued: “Conferences with the best officers targeted on strengthening cooperation in peaceable nuclear know-how. Grossi inaugurated varied nuclear installations and designated Pakistan as an IAEA Regional Heart for the remedy of most cancers.
“Highlighting the function of nuclear vitality within the combat in opposition to local weather change, his go to concluded with a dinner hosted by the International Secretary.”
The video has additionally been shared elsewhere on Fb right here , right here and right here
An identical deceptive declare was shared on social media platform X right here and right here.
In response to the deceptive posts, Pakistan's Ministry of International Affairs rejected solutions that Grossi visited the nation in March this yr.
“Any story relating to the go to of a high-level IAEA delegation to Pakistan is faux information,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement on March 15, 2024 (hyperlink archived).
“No IAEA official is at the moment visiting Pakistan, nor are any coverage discussions deliberate within the close to future with the IAEA. The IAEA Director Basic visited Pakistan in February 2023.”
Outdated information clip
A key phrase search on YouTube discovered the video shared within the posts was initially printed right here on the official GNN channel on February 15, 2023 (hyperlink archived).
His caption learn: “FM Bilawal Bhutto Meets DG (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi | Breaking Information | GNN.”
When Grossi visited Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was head of the South Asian nation's overseas ministry.
Beneath is a screenshot comparability of the video in one of many deceptive posts (left) and the video printed by GNN in 2023 (proper):
In line with the IAEA, Grossi mentioned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif how nuclear science may assist mitigate the worst results of local weather change in Pakistan. He additionally visited nuclear amenities throughout the nation, the company mentioned in a press launch on February 16, 2023 (hyperlink archived).
Grossi was in Japan the week of March 2024 when deceptive posts circulated, assembly with varied leaders on the discharge of handled water from the affected Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Energy Plant, in accordance with this IAEA report (archived hyperlink).
Shortly after the deceptive posts circulated on-line, Pakistan's overseas minister Ishaq Dar – who has held the place since March 11, 2024 – met with Grossi on the sidelines of the Summit Nuclear Power in Brussels, reported the Related Press of Pakistan (archived hyperlinks). right here and right here).
