A video (here, here and here) of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan is circulating on social media, claiming that he expressed serious concern over growing defence cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh. In the viral clip, he is heard saying, “Particularly concerning is the potential sale of JF-17 Thunder jets, a platform proven effective in recent high-intensity operations that could sharply boost Bangladesh’s air capabilities and disrupt the strategic balance in the eastern theatre. India must vigilantly monitor and prevent such shifts.” Let’s find the truth behind this video.
Claim: The viral video shows CDS General Anil Chauhan warning about growing Pakistan–Bangladesh defence ties and the sale of JF-17 jets to Bangladesh.
Fact: The video is digitally altered. In the original visuals, General Chauhan did not mention Pakistan, Bangladesh, or JF-17 jets. The audio in the viral video is a deepfake, and digitally added to the original visuals. Hence the claim is FALSE.
To verify the claim, we first conducted a keyword search to check whether General Anil Chauhan had made any such statement. However, we did not find any credible media coverage, government communication, or official statements supporting the claim.
Next, we examined the viral video closely and noticed a PTI watermark. Using this clue, we performed a reverse image search, which led us to the original video posted by PTI on its official X handle. The frame, outfit, and background matched the viral clip, but in the original video, General Chauhan was addressing the Lt Gen SK Sinha Memorial program. Importantly, there was no mention of Pakistan, Bangladesh, JF-17 jets, or any related geopolitical concerns featured in the viral audio.
We also found the full speech streamed by ANI News on YouTube on 7 January 2026, titled “Birth Centenary Celebrations of Lt Gen SK Sinha” from Delhi. After reviewing the complete speech, we found no references matching the claims circulating online.
Additionally, the viral video displays clear signs of audio manipulation. The audio does not align with the lip movements, indicating it may have been digitally altered. We analysed the audio in the clip using the Hiya AI audio detection tool, which flagged the audio as a deepfake, confirming that the speech was not authentic.
Moreover, the Indian government’s fact-checking unit, PIB Fact Check, clarified that a digitally altered video is being circulated online, falsely showing CDS General Anil Chauhan commenting on Pakistan–Bangladesh defence ties. PIB further noted that Pakistani propaganda channels were amplifying the clip and confirmed that the video is fake.
To sum up, this video of the Chief of Defence Staff allegedly commenting on Pakistan–Bangladesh defence ties is a deepfake.
