Pakistani disinformation operatives are exploiting global geopolitical friction—particularly the US-Israel-Iran standoff—to target India with bogus stories. India’s official fact-checking arms, including PIB and MEA, are countering this aggressively.
A fresh example emerged with a doctored video featuring retired Army Chief General Manoj Pande. Shared widely by Pakistani accounts, it portrays him slamming Indian Army ethics linked to alleged Israeli training. PIB’s fact check unit dismantled the hoax, revealing it as a sophisticated AI deepfake.
The bureau posted a comparative graphic: fake versus authentic video. ‘Beware! AI-generated deepfake. Gen Manoj Pande (Retd) did not say this. Part of coordinated Pakistani campaign to undermine Indian Army trust,’ they alerted.
In the altered footage, Pande is shown warning that supporting Israel harms India’s ‘ethical force’ image. He purportedly references unrest in Assam, alleging Israeli trainers teach soldiers to view certain ethnic and religious groups as subhuman, risking mutiny.
Contrast this with the genuine clip, where Pande discusses strategic foresight. ‘Assess current and future threats, then build capabilities accordingly. Armies fight the last war at their peril; we need next-gen readiness,’ he advised.
Experts highlight how AI tools enable seamless video manipulation, making deepfakes hard to spot. This case exemplifies state-sponsored info wars. Public awareness and source verification are key defenses. As these tactics evolve, India’s fact-check ecosystem proves vital in safeguarding national narrative.