PIB Fact Check busts Pak claims of Rafale and S-400 destruction in Op Sindoor; flags fake AI video

The Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking unit on Sunday debunked a fake video circulating on social media that falsely claimed that Pakistan destroyed India's Rafale fighter jets and S-400 air defence systems during Operation Sindoor. The fact-checking agency also warned users against falling for misinformation.

In a post on X, PIB Fact Check said that Pakistani propaganda accounts are sharing a doctored, AI-generated video of former Indian Army Chief General Ved Prakash Malik (Retd), falsely claiming that he praised Pakistan and admitted the destruction of Rafale fighter jets and S-400 air defence systems.

“This video is fake and has been digitally manipulated using AI tools,” the X post read, rejecting the claims.

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“General Ved Prakash Malik (Retd) has NOT made any such remarks,” PIB Fact Check clarified.

The government-sourced fact-checking agency cautioned about the untruthful content that is intentionally being circulated to confuse people and to create a lack of trust in India's military capability and readiness.

“Such fabricated content is intended to mislead citizens and undermine confidence in India's defence capabilities. Verify facts. Stop misinformation,” the post said.

The fraudulent video implies that Pakistan owns better weapons and equipment and claims that the destruction of Rafale jets and the S-400 missile defence system is evidence of its military superiority over India. It further suggested that India must upgrade its defence equipment.

In support of its argument, PIB Fact Check, while sharing the real video clip, states that General Malik is saying that during Operation Sindoor, no record troops from either side had crossed into the other's territory, highlighting the evolution of modern warfare.

"During Operation Sindoor, we didn't even cross each other's border. Technological advancement is so immense. We now have standoff weapons; both nations have them. So we can hit each other while being away from the border," General Malik said in the original video, according to IANS.

"But definitely, in India we have better weapons and equipment," he stressed.