The PIB Fact Check unit has flagged a deepfake video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as part of a wider Pakistan-linked misinformation campaign during the West Asia crisis.
As tensions escalate in West Asia, India is confronting a surge in online misinformation campaigns largely traced to Pakistan-based social media accounts, with authorities warning that coordinated propaganda using AI-generated deepfakes and edited videos is increasingly targeting the country’s political leadership, armed forces and diplomatic positions.
Government fact-checking agencies say the activity has intensified in recent days, coinciding with heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. Officials view the trend as part of a broader information warfare effort aimed at shaping narratives about India’s position on the ongoing West Asia conflict.
DEEPFAKE OF JAISHANKAR FLAGGED
The Press Information Bureau Fact Check unit recently flagged a digitally manipulated video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that circulated widely online.
The clip falsely claimed that the minister had said India would not tolerate Muslim countries “harassing Israel” and also alleged that Israel had provided $3 billion to the Afghan Taliban at India’s request. The PIB clarified that the video was fabricated and that the minister had made no such statements.
In a post on social media on March 10, the PIB Fact Check unit said, “Pakistani propaganda accounts are sharing a digitally manipulated video of the External Affairs Minister with false claims alleging that he said India would not tolerate Muslim countries harassing Israel and that Israel recently granted $3 billion to the Taliban at India’s request.”
Officials say the incident is part of a wider pattern of misinformation campaigns that seek to misrepresent India’s diplomatic stance and influence public opinion during periods of international tension.
RISE IN MISINFORMATION CASES
According to government data, the PIB Fact Check unit has debunked more than 2,400 pieces of fake or misleading information over the past four years. Of these, more than 800 were identified in the last year alone, with many relating to national security and foreign policy issues.
Fact-checking agencies say misinformation tends to spike sharply during crises.
During the 2025 military tensions that followed India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack under “Operation Sindoor,” authorities blocked more than 1,400 URLs that were spreading anti-India propaganda. Officials said most of these originated from Pakistan-linked networks.
Fact-checkers say many such posts are designed to create panic, amplify confusion and shape public perception during sensitive moments.
PATTERN OF AI-GENERATED PROPAGANDA
The deepfake involving Jaishankar is not an isolated incident. Another AI-generated video circulated earlier falsely portrayed an Indian Air Force officer criticising aircraft maintenance standards and blaming the government for rising accidents.
The video gained traction on social media before it was debunked by the PIB Fact Check unit.
Investigations have also found repeated use of AI-cloned voices and manipulated footage of India’s military leadership to promote misleading narratives about defence preparedness and internal dissent.
OLD FOOTAGE USED TO CREATE FALSE CLAIMS
Authorities say misinformation campaigns often rely not only on deepfakes but also on repurposed videos and images.
In one instance, footage of the 2020 Beirut port explosion was circulated online with claims that it showed a Pakistani missile strike on India. Fact-checkers later confirmed that the video had been falsely linked to India.
Similarly, during Operation Sindoor, viral posts claiming drone interceptions, destruction of military bases and closure of Indian airports were later exposed as fabricated.
‘HYBRID WARFARE’ IN THE DIGITAL SPACE
Security analysts describe such campaigns as a form of hybrid warfare in which information manipulation accompanies geopolitical crises.
Research on digital conflict ecosystems shows that AI-generated videos, recycled battlefield footage and edited clips can spread rapidly during conflicts, making real-time verification difficult.
In response, the Indian government has expanded fact-checking efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and the Press Information Bureau to monitor viral content and issue clarifications quickly.
Officials say these agencies work continuously to counter misinformation and prevent panic among the public.
