New Delhi, May 16, 2025 — A series of manipulated videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have surfaced on social media, primarily shared by users in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These clips falsely depict Indian leaders acknowledging defeat following recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Upon investigation, all of these videos have been confirmed to be deepfakes—fabricated using artificial intelligence tools to spread propaganda.
Context: Operation Sindoor and Subsequent Misinformation
On the night between May 6 and 7, 2025, Indian armed forces reportedly launched air strikes targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. Pakistani forces allegedly responded with retaliatory air attacks, which were successfully countered by India’s air defence systems.
In the days that followed, several misleading videos started circulating online. These videos purported to show India’s top political figures—PM Modi, Amit Shah, and S. Jaishankar—making public statements of surrender or apology. The content appeared to be aimed at pushing a false narrative of India conceding to pressure.
Verification Process
A fact-checking team, in collaboration with deepfake detection experts from the Misinformation Combat Alliance’s Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU), closely examined the viral videos.
PM Modi Video (First Clip)
The first video, shared by a Facebook user on May 10, allegedly showed PM Modi admitting defeat. Analysis by Hive AI’s deepfake detection software revealed that the audio in the video was entirely synthesized. Additional testing through DeepFake-O-Meter showed conclusive evidence from multiple classifiers that the audio was not genuine. Visual inconsistencies, such as unnatural lip movements and lighting artifacts, further confirmed the video’s inauthenticity.
Amit Shah Video
Another video, supposedly showing Amit Shah issuing an apology, was subjected to the same scrutiny. Hive AI flagged the entire audio track as manipulated. The DeepFake-O-Meter tool indicated that six of seven classifiers identified the audio as artificially generated. Visual signs of editing were also present, reinforcing that the video was falsified.
S. Jaishankar Video
The clip featuring External Affairs Minister Jaishankar was found to be partly altered. While one segment of the audio appeared genuine, other parts showed signs of tampering. Hive AI and DeepFake-O-Meter confirmed AI involvement in both audio and visuals. The official fact-checking handle of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) also labeled the video as fabricated and part of a wider propaganda effort.
Second PM Modi Clip
A separate video of PM Modi was also circulated with a misleading caption. Investigators used Google Lens to trace the footage to a Hindustan Times video from May 7. The original footage showed the Prime Minister addressing the Global Conference on Space Exploration 2025 via video link. In the original video, there was no reference to military operations, indicating the viral version was doctored to convey a false message.
Official Confirmation
BJP national spokesperson Vijay Sonkar Shastri confirmed to fact-checkers that all the videos in question were fake. Furthermore, during a national address on May 12, PM Modi clarified that while further action against Pakistan was currently on hold, any future dialogue would be strictly focused on cross-border terrorism and the issue of PoK.
Social Media Origin
A review of user activity showed that the individuals spreading these deepfake videos were either based in Pakistan or PoK and appeared to be aligned with pro-Pakistan narratives.
Conclusion
The videos featuring PM Modi, Amit Shah, and S. Jaishankar circulating on social media platforms are not authentic. They have been digitally altered using AI tools and are being shared with the intent to mislead. These deepfakes are part of a coordinated attempt to manipulate public perception following recent geopolitical tensions.
