Pak propaganda account shares AI-generated deepfake of Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi claiming to ‘hand over’ Arunachal to China. PIB fact-checks fake videos | ×
New Delhi: Pakistani propaganda accounts are spreading a digitally altered video of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on social media. These accounts falsely claimed that Mr. Dwivedi proposed handing over Arunachal Pradesh to China to stop Beijing from supporting Pakistan and admitted that Chinese technology destroyed Rafale fighter jets during India-Pakistan tensions.
The government’s fact-checking arm revealed on Thursday, November 27, that the video was fabricated and warned the public not to share unverified content.
Look at the distinction here.
PIB calls viral clips “AI-generated fakes”
According to PIB Fact Check, the video in circulation is an AI-generated deepfake designed to spread misinformation and undermine confidence in the Indian military. “The Chief of Army Staff has not made such a statement,” the force said, adding that users should rely only on official sources. It also warned that the clip was pushed by several Pakistanis seeking to influence the discourse on India-China and India-Pakistan relations.
The fake video is a fake audio superimposed on genuine footage of General Dwivedi’s speech at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahe at the Naval Shipyard in Mumbai on November 24. In the doctored version, the dubbed audio argues that India should consider handing over Arunachal Pradesh to China to maintain peace on its northern border, and claims that Chinese technology was responsible for the downing of the Rafale jet. PIB said these claims are completely false.
Authentic footage of General Dwivedi praising indigenous naval capabilities
In the original unedited video, General Dwivedi talks about India’s progress in warship design and Indian shipbuilding. In the part exploited by deepfakes, he said, “It is a very proud moment and a deep sense of honor to be present at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahe…India is now able to design and build a complex, modern warship on its own.”
The speech focused on self-reliance, professionalism, and the transformation of the Navy into what he described as a “Builder’s Navy.”
Authorities urged the public to watch the original video and remain wary of manipulated content, adding that lip-syncing and differences in tone indicate the viral audio was fabricated. The Fact-Finding Unit reiterated that the claims circulating online are baseless and should not be escalated.
