Pakistan Accused of Spreading AI-Generated Propaganda Against Indian Army, PIB Refutes Claims

In a concerning development, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has exposed a digitally manipulated video circulating on social media that falsely attributes controversial statements to Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, Commander of the South Western Army.

The fabricated video, being spread through Pakistani propaganda accounts, shows Lt Gen Singh allegedly criticizing Indian Army exercises as merely “political optics to boost the image for the Bihar elections.” The altered footage also falsely depicts the senior military officer making politically charged statements about serving the nation rather than any specific political party.

“The AI-generated fake video is being circulated to mislead people and create distrust against the Indian Armed Forces,” the PIB stated in its official fact-check report. The bureau emphatically confirmed that Lt Gen Manjinder Singh never made such remarks.

The PIB compared the doctored video with the original footage recorded in Bikaner, Rajasthan, revealing stark differences in content and intent. In the authentic recording, Lt Gen Singh discusses the Indian Army’s preparedness and training methodologies, with no mention of political motivations or elections.

“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 actually stated in the original video. He further elaborated on technological advancements and the army’s focus on night training, noting that “70% of the training [is conducted] at night and 30% during the day.”

By contrast, the fabricated version included inflammatory statements suggesting political interference in military operations: “We all know these so-called threshold exercises are being pushed for optics to boost the image for Bihar elections, but remember we serve India, not any party… They may try to saffronize our image, but the Indian Army belongs only to the Republic, not to Modi.”

This incident marks another chapter in the growing challenge of deepfake videos and AI-manipulated content being deployed for geopolitical purposes. The India-Pakistan relationship, historically fraught with tensions, has increasingly witnessed information warfare tactics utilizing advanced technologies to spread misinformation.

Security analysts point out that such sophisticated disinformation campaigns are designed to create internal divisions and undermine institutional credibility. The targeting of high-ranking military officials is particularly concerning as it attempts to suggest political partisanship within an organization that prides itself on political neutrality.

The timing of this manipulated content also appears strategic, coming amid heightened political activity surrounding the Bihar state elections. By falsely linking military exercises to electoral politics, the fabricated video attempts to sow doubt about the independence of India’s armed forces.

In response to the rising tide of deepfakes and AI-manipulated content, the PIB has intensified its fact-checking efforts. Authorities have urged social media users to verify information through official channels before sharing potentially misleading content.

This incident underscores the evolving nature of information warfare in South Asia, where traditional geopolitical rivalries are increasingly playing out in the digital domain through sophisticated technological deception rather than conventional means.

Cybersecurity experts warn that as AI-generated content becomes more convincing and easier to produce, distinguishing truth from fabrication will require greater vigilance from both institutions and individual citizens in the information ecosystem.