Army Chief deepfake video debunked: PIB flags Pakistan propaganda on Taliban claim
Synopsis
Pakistani propaganda accounts have used AI to manufacture a deepfake of India’s Army Chief making false statements about Taliban funding — but the original footage was from a real NDA press conference where General Dwivedi warned of ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’. The PIB’s swift debunking exposes a calculated escalation in cross-border information warfare targeting India’s military narrative.
Key Takeaways
The PIB on 1 June debunked an AI-generated deepfake video falsely attributing pro-Taliban remarks to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi .
Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating the manipulated clip to falsely claim India funds the Taliban .
The original footage is from a legitimate press conference at the NDA Passing Out Parade (150th Course) in Pune .
In the real video, General Dwivedi stated that Operation Sindoor is ongoing and the Armed Forces are preparing for ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if required.
The PIB has urged the public to verify content before sharing, particularly posts involving senior military officials.
The Indian government on Monday, 1 June formally debunked a digitally-manipulated video of Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi that Pakistani propaganda accounts have been circulating on social media, falsely attributing to him remarks about India funding the Taliban. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checking unit confirmed the viral clip is an AI-generated deepfake and urged the public not to be misled.
What the Fake Video Claims
According to the PIB fact-check statement, Pakistani propaganda accounts are using artificial intelligence to manipulate original footage of General Dwivedi and falsely suggest he made statements regarding India's engagement with the Taliban. “This claim is fake. Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi did NOT make any such statement. The viral clip has been digitally-manipulated to falsely attribute remarks to the Chief of the Army Staff,” the PIB stated.
What General Dwivedi Actually Said
The manipulated footage was taken from a legitimate press conference held by General Dwivedi after the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 150th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune on Saturday. At that event, he addressed the current security situation following Operation Sindoor.
“Operation Sindoor is still continuing. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. Therefore, the Indian Army, along with all three Services, is preparing well for ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’, if it takes place. Presently, we are focussed on enhancing synergy among the three Services. We are also equipping ourselves for the next generation of warfare,” General Dwivedi said.
Scale and Nature of the Disinformation Campaign
The PIB noted that the deepfake is part of a broader pattern of Pakistani propaganda activity on social media platforms, aimed at spreading misinformation about the Indian Armed Forces. This comes amid heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor, with the Army chief confirming that while hostilities have temporarily ceased, all three Services remain at a high level of preparedness for any future contingency, including what he described as ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’.
Notably, the use of AI-generated deepfakes to falsely attribute statements to senior military officials represents an escalation in state-linked information warfare tactics that Indian authorities have been tracking with increasing concern.
Government Response and Public Advisory
The PIB fact-checking unit, which operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, issued an explicit public advisory urging citizens to verify claims before sharing content involving senior government or military officials. The bureau has flagged multiple Pakistan-origin disinformation attempts in recent weeks, particularly targeting narratives around Operation Sindoor. Authorities have not yet detailed any formal diplomatic or cyber response to the campaign.
Point of View
Credible footage as a base makes the fabrication far harder for ordinary users to detect. India’s PIB fact-check mechanism is reactive by design, and the speed with which such content spreads means the debunking almost always trails the disinformation. The deeper question is whether India’s digital literacy infrastructure and platform-level enforcement are keeping pace with the accelerating quality of state-linked AI propaganda.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deepfake video of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi?
It is an AI-manipulated video circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts that falsely shows General Upendra Dwivedi making remarks about India funding the Taliban. The PIB confirmed on 1 June that no such statement was ever made and that the clip was digitally altered from a real press conference.
What did General Dwivedi actually say in the original video?
In the original footage — from the NDA 150th Course Passing Out Parade in Pune — General Dwivedi said that Operation Sindoor is ongoing despite a temporary cessation of hostilities, and that the Armed Forces are preparing for ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if the situation demands it.
Who flagged the fake video and how?
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checking unit, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, issued a formal statement on 1 June identifying the video as digitally manipulated and attributing its spread to Pakistani propaganda accounts on social media.
Why is this deepfake significant?
It represents an escalation in AI-driven information warfare targeting India’s military, using authentic footage as a base to make fabrications harder to detect. It comes amid heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor , making the disinformation particularly sensitive.
What should the public do if they see the video?
The PIB has advised citizens not to share unverified content involving senior government or military officials. Any suspicious content can be reported to the PIB fact-check portal for verification before amplification.
