Fact Check: Government Flags Deepfake Video Of Former Army Chief Manoj Pande

The government has alerted the public about a fabricated video involving former Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande (Retd) that is being widely shared online with misleading narratives about the Indian Army.

The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check division stated, “Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a digitally manipulated video, falsely showing the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Manoj Pande (Retd.), making false statements regarding the Indian Army. Beware! This is an AI-generated deepfake video.”

According to the PIB, “Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating such manipulated videos as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign to mislead the public and undermine trust in Indian Armed Forces.”

Officials emphasised that Gen Manoj Pande has never issued the statements shown in the viral video.

The fact-checking agency also appealed to citizens to confirm information through trusted sources before forwarding such content on social media.

The edited video portrays the former Army chief alleging that India’s support for Israel has negatively affected the Indian Army. It also suggests that soldiers must operate as an ‘ethnic force’.

The clip further claims that Israeli instructors are training Indian troops to treat certain communities in a hostile manner. It also hints at the possibility of rebellion within the armed forces.

Authorities clarified that the video contains digitally inserted comments that do not appear in the genuine recording.

In the authentic footage, Gen Manoj Pande was discussing, “We live in a complex world. We should not only be able to deal with the current security challenges but also anticipate the future. Once you anticipate, you must prepare accordingly and develop the capabilities required to effectively fight future wars. The armed forces have to be future-ready.”

The PIB once again advised the public to remain vigilant about misleading content online, particularly material related to national security, and to rely on verified information before sharing it.

Also Read: PIB Fact Check Exposes AI-Generated Video Falsely Attributing Remarks To Govt Official