New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit issued a caution on Monday regarding an AI-generated deepfake video of former Chief of Army Staff, Manoj Pande. This video is being disseminated online by Pakistani propaganda accounts, presenting misleading claims about the Indian Army.

According to the PIB Fact Check unit, the falsified video inaccurately depicts Gen. Manoj Pande (Retd.) making contentious statements about the operations and behavior of the Indian Army.

“Pakistani propaganda accounts are sharing a digitally altered video that falsely represents the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Manoj Pande (Retd.), making untrue statements regarding the Indian Army. Be cautious! This is an AI-generated deepfake video,” the PIB Fact Check emphasized, clarifying that the former Army Chief has not issued any such remarks.

The unit further warned that this type of digitally altered material is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign intended to mislead the public and diminish trust in the Indian Armed Forces. The agency urged the public to verify information through official and reliable sources before sharing it on social media.

“Pakistani propaganda accounts are propagating these manipulated videos as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign to mislead the public and erode trust in the Indian Armed Forces,” it stated.

In the altered video circulating online, the former Army Chief appears to assert that backing Israel has resulted in setbacks for the Indian Army and that soldiers are being compelled to transform into an “ethnic force.” The video also falsely asserts that Israeli trainers are instructing Indian Army personnel to dehumanize certain communities, suggesting that this could incite a revolt within the ranks.

However, the PIB clarified that the remarks in the viral video have been digitally fabricated. In the authentic video, Manoj Pande is heard discussing the necessity for the armed forces to remain vigilant in the face of future security challenges.

“We inhabit a complex world. We must not only address current security challenges but also anticipate what lies ahead. Once we anticipate, we must prepare accordingly and build the capabilities necessary to effectively engage in future conflicts. The armed forces must be future-ready,” he stated in the original video.

The PIB reiterated that such altered content is part of ongoing efforts to spread misinformation online and advised the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing sensitive information related to national security.

Previously, on March 10, the PIB Fact Check unit debunked a viral claim circulating on social media that India had disclosed the location of an Iranian naval vessel to Israel, reportedly based on an AI-generated video of Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi widely shared by Pakistani propaganda accounts and subsequently amplified by a Turkish newspaper.

According to PIB Fact Check, the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak referenced the manipulated video and claimed that India had acknowledged sharing the location of an Iranian vessel with Israel. However, the government's fact-checking unit clarified that this claim was entirely false and misleading.