INDIA EXPOSES AI-DOCTORED ARMY STATEMENT SHARED BY PAKISTAN PROPAGANDA ACCOUNTS

Indian authorities have uncovered the latest attempt to spread disinformation through AI-manipulated content, exposing a digitally altered video of a senior Indian Army officer that was circulated on social media platforms.

The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit revealed Friday that a doctored video showing South Western Army Commander Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh allegedly criticizing the Indian Army’s threshold exercises as “political optics to boost the image for the Bihar elections” was fake and intentionally misleading.

In a direct comparison between the manipulated and authentic recordings, the PIB demonstrated how the officer’s statements had been altered. “This AI-generated fake video is being circulated to mislead people and create distrust against the Indian Armed Forces,” the agency stated on social media.

The original footage, recorded in Bikaner, Rajasthan, captured Lt. Gen. Singh discussing military preparedness and echoing India’s stance that any terrorist action against the nation would be treated as “an act of war.” His actual statements emphasized the Southern Command’s readiness to respond to potential threats.

“The Indian Army is following the political direction of the ‘New Normal’, under which any terror act on the country will be considered an ‘act of war’. The military has to prepare for any such activities,” Lt. Gen. Singh said in the authentic video. He further detailed the military’s focus on night training capabilities, noting that “70% of the training [occurs] at night and 30% during the day.”

By contrast, the fabricated version portrayed the Lieutenant General speaking against attempts to “saffronise our image” and claiming that “the Indian Army belongs only to the Republic, not to Modi.” The PIB confirmed these statements were never made by the officer.

This incident marks the second recent case of AI-manipulated military content targeting India-Pakistan relations. Earlier in October, the PIB debunked another altered video featuring Western Command Chief Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, in which he was falsely depicted claiming that India had made payments to the Afghan Taliban to encourage actions against Pakistan.

“These AI-manipulated videos are being spread to create panic and mislead people. If you spot such content, please report it to us,” the PIB warned at the time.

The timing of these fabricated videos appears calculated, with the most recent example emerging during Bihar’s election season in India, and the earlier fake content coinciding with escalating border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Security analysts note that the sophistication of these AI-generated forgeries represents a concerning evolution in information warfare. The technology allows bad actors to create convincing fake statements from military officials that could potentially inflame regional tensions or undermine public trust in institutions.

The incidents highlight the growing challenge faced by governments and fact-checking organizations in combating disinformation, particularly when it involves deepfake technology that can convincingly replicate individuals’ voices and mannerisms.

Indian defense officials have remained vigilant against such manipulation attempts, especially as relations with neighboring Pakistan continue to be fraught with tension. The PIB has urged citizens to verify information through official channels before sharing content on social media platforms.

As AI technology becomes more accessible, military and intelligence communities worldwide are developing enhanced detection methods to identify fabricated content. However, the rapid advancement of these technologies means the race between creation and detection of false information continues to intensify across South Asia and beyond.