A video circulating widely on social media platforms claims to show former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande making controversial remarks about the Indian Army becoming an "ethnic force" and allegedly being influenced by Israeli instructors.
In the video General Pande is allegedly heard saying,
"You know the biggest loss of supporting Israel? Our Indian army had always been trained to be an ethical force. The current situation is causing it to become an ethnic force. Mark my words, this situation is going towards a complete mutiny. We have all seen what is happening in Assam. Our army is being trained by Israeli instructors, whose first instruction is that all Muslim, Sikh, Rengma and Kuki are not humans. They first teach how to dehumanize them and then they are oppressed. This is not good. It will lead to an internal revolt if this continues."
Screengrab from X post by @InsderWBWest Asia Crisis – 2020 Video From Ajman Market Shared As Massive Fire At Dubai Airport
Evidence
A keyword search for "General Manoj Pande," "Indian army" and "Israel" did not yield any credible media reports or official records confirming he made such statements.
We then looked up the keyframes of the viral clip on Google Lens which led to a X post by news agency
It featured a video showing General Pande in the same attire and background as seen in the viral clip, and quoted him as saying, "We live in a complex world. We should not only be able to deal with the current security challenges, but also anticipate the future. Once you’ve anticipated, you have to prepare yourself accordingly. You have to have those capabilities which will enable you to effectively fight future wars. The armed forces have to be future ready…"
Screengrab from X post by PTINowhere in the authentic speech does he mention Israeli instructors, minorities, or describe the Indian Army as an "ethnic force."
Further, AI audio detection tools such as Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector and Undetectable AI found the voice in the viral clip as "likely deepfake," and "likely AI-generated" respectively.
Screengrab from Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector 
Screengrab from Undetectable AI website The government's
Verdict
The viral video claiming that former Army Chief General Manoj Pande warned that the Indian Army is becoming an "ethnic force" is digitally manipulated.
FAQs
Q1. Did General Manoj Pande actually call the Indian Army an "ethnic force"?
No. There is no credible record or authentic video where he makes such a statement.
Q2. How was the viral video manipulated?
The original visuals were retained, but the audio was replaced with AI-generated voice content to insert fabricated remarks.
Q3. Has any official authority responded to the viral clip?
Yes. PIB Fact Check confirmed that the video is manipulated and that the statements attributed to the former Army Chief are fake.
Q4. Are such deepfake videos targeting Indian officials common?
Yes. In recent years, multiple senior military officers and political leaders have been targeted with AI-generated or edited videos aimed at spreading misinformation and creating controversy.
Sources
X Post By , Dated March 14, 2026
X Post By , Dated March 16, 2026
Undetectable AI Website
Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector