Deepfake Video Spreads False Claims of Indian Military Losses

Strategic Insights -

Pakistani social media users have been sharing videos claiming to show the Indian Army chief admitting to the loss of six jets and 250 soldiers in a recent conflict against Pakistan. However, the video is a deepfake, lacking any truth or evidence. This claim has been circulating on social media platforms, including X and TikTok, with various accounts and users amplifying the false information. The original video was not verified before being shared, and its authenticity was not checked. Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh had earlier claimed that India had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other large aircraft, but there is no evidence to support the claim of the Indian Army chief admitting to losses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian Army chief did not make any statement about losing six jets and 250 soldiers in a recent conflict against Pakistan.
  • The viral video is a deepfake, and the claim that the Indian Army chief admitted to the losses is false.
  • The original video does not contain any statement about losing jets and soldiers.
  • The speech in the viral video was tampered with, and the altered segment matches the supposed admission of losses.
  • Multiple pro-military accounts and users shared the false claim, reinforcing the false narrative.
  • The fact-check revealed that the Indian Army chief did not make any such statement in his original speech.
  • The original video was available on the Republic World YouTube channel, providing evidence that contradicts the viral claim.
  • The fake video was shared on various social media platforms, including X and TikTok, with some accounts claiming that it was evidence of Indian military losses.

Statistics:

  • 140,700 views: The number of views the viral video gained on X.
  • 5: The number of Pakistani fighter jets claimed to have been shot down by India according to Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
  • 12: The total number of aircraft (5 fighter jets + 1 unknown aircraft) claimed to have been shot down by India according to Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
  • 6: The number of jets claimed to have been lost by the Indian Army in the viral video, which was later revealed to be false.
  • 250: The number of soldiers claimed to have been lost by the Indian Army in the viral video, which was later revealed to be false.
  • August 10, 2025: The date of the original speech given by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
  • August 9: The date of the statement made by Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.

Sources:

  • News article on the original speech given by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, available on the Republic World YouTube channel.
  • Statement made by Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on August 9, 2025.
  • Fact-check report on the viral video, detailing the observations of the video and the conclusion that the claim is false.
  • Screenshots of the viral video and other social media posts sharing the false claim.