PIB Warns Against Pakistan’s False Propaganda, Urges Public to Trust Only Official Sources

#

India’s Press Bureau Exposes Pakistani Propaganda Using AI-Altered Military Videos

India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) has uncovered a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting high-ranking Indian military officials through artificially manipulated videos. The propaganda effort, attributed to Pakistani sources, involves digitally altered speeches of senior Indian Army leadership.

The PIB Fact Check unit recently identified and exposed a manipulated video of Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, that falsely depicted him claiming that “all non-caste Hindu soldiers are being removed in a ‘Saffronized India.'” The bureau categorically denied that General Dwivedi ever made such statements.

“Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a digitally altered video of the Chief of the Army Staff,” the PIB stated in a post on social media platform X. “This AI-generated fake video is being circulated to mislead people and create distrust against the Indian Armed Forces.”

The timing of these propaganda efforts appears strategic, coinciding with heightened regional tensions and domestic political events in India. Security analysts suggest this represents an escalation in information warfare tactics between the neighboring countries.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. The PIB also identified another manipulated video targeting General Dwivedi that falsely claimed the Indian Army’s “Trishul exercises” were merely “political theatre” staged ahead of the Bihar state elections. Again, the PIB confirmed the general made no such statements.

To counter the misinformation, the government agency has taken the unusual step of directly linking to authentic source footage from news agency ANI, allowing the public to verify the original content for themselves. The move represents an evolution in fact-checking methodology in response to increasingly sophisticated AI-generated disinformation.

“Stay alert. Do not forward content of this type. For authentic information, rely only on official sources,” the PIB advised the public in its statement.

The incident highlights the growing challenge of AI-powered disinformation in South Asian geopolitics. With deepfake technology becoming more accessible and realistic, security experts warn that distinguishing authentic military communications from manipulated content will become increasingly difficult for average citizens.

India and Pakistan have long engaged in information operations against each other, but the sophistication of these latest efforts signals a concerning development. Digital forensics experts note that such deepfakes can be particularly damaging when they exploit existing societal tensions – in this case, attempting to create divisions along religious and caste lines within India’s armed forces.

The Indian military, which has a long tradition of secular integration across religious and regional backgrounds, appears to be a deliberate target. Analysts suggest the propaganda aims to undermine public confidence in military leadership while simultaneously promoting narratives of religious discrimination within India’s security establishment.

The PIB’s Fact Check unit, established specifically to combat false information targeting Indian institutions, remains vigilant against what it describes as “mischief” from pro-Pakistan social media accounts attempting to “tarnish the image of India.”

Security officials warn that as technology advances, verifying the authenticity of digital content will require greater digital literacy and institutional fact-checking mechanisms. The increasing sophistication of such disinformation campaigns presents a growing national security challenge across the region.