Fake Alert: Did Ex-Indian Army Chief Praise Pakistan, Admit Rafale Losses? No, Video Is AI-Made

The government has flagged a doctored, AI-generated video circulating on social media that falsely claims former Indian Army chief General Ved Prakash Malik (Retd) praised Pakistan’s military capabilities

and admitted the destruction of India’s Rafale fighter jets and S-400 air defence systems.According to the Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit, Pakistani propaganda-linked accounts are sharing the manipulated clip to spread disinformation and undermine confidence in India’s defence preparedness. The video has been labelled as fake and digitally altered using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.In the fabricated clip, Gen. Malik is falsely shown saying that Pakistan possesses superior weapons and equipment and that the alleged destruction of Rafale aircraft and S-400 systems proves Pakistan’s military dominance over India. PIB Fact Check has categorically rejected these claims, saying that General Malik has not made any such remarks.

The video is being shared online with the caption, "During Operation Sindoor, we didn't even cross each other's border. Technological advancement is so immense. Pakistan has better weapons and equipment. Destruction of Rafales & S400 systems is a testament to their superiority over India. We need to improve our equipments (sic)."

In the authentic footage, General Malik is heard making a broader comparison of military operations and technological changes over time, without any reference to losses of Indian defence assets or praise for Pakistan.Speaking in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, the former Army chief said that it is India that has better weapons and equipment. In the video shared by news agency ANI, he said, “As I mentioned earlier, human resources were used extensively during Operation Vijay, and there was direct physical combat. During Operation Sindoor, we did not even cross each other’s borders. The level of technological advancement today is immense. We now have standoff weapons, and both countries possess such capabilities, allowing us to strike from a distance without crossing the border. This reflects the significant technological progress adopted by both sides. However, India definitely has better weapons and equipment.”

PIB Fact Check warned that such fabricated content is deliberately designed to mislead citizens, spread false narratives and weaken public trust in India’s defence capabilities. It urged people to verify information before sharing it on social media and to rely on credible sources.