Did Army’s Western Command Chief Admit That India Paid Taliban to Attack Pakistan?

A viral video claims that Indian Army Western Command Chief Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar admitted India paid the Taliban in Afghanistan to attack Pakistan, amid recent border tensions. In the clip, he is allegedly heard saying the Taliban were “bought for a few rupees” to carry out operations against Pakistan.

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Evidence

No Official Record or Media Report

A keyword search for “Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar,” “Taliban” and related terms yielded no credible news reports or official Army communications attributing such remarks to the Western Command Chief.

Original Video

A reverse image search of the viral frames led to a YouTube livestream by ANI, dated October 14, 2025, showing Lt Gen Katiyar addressing a press conference. The officer appears in the same background, but he makes no such remarks. 

Signs of AI Manipulation

A close visual analysis revealed distortions,  including a blurred name tag, misshaped text on the backdrop, and a smudged ANI logo, all indicators of tampering. The officer’s face region appeared blurred, further suggesting the use of AI-based alteration tools.

AI Detection Tools Confirm Deepfake

The video’s audio was tested on Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector, which labeled it “likely deepfake.”

An analysis on Hive Moderation found a 99.5% probability that the video contained AI-generated or deepfake content.

Official Denial

The PIB Fact Check unit also debunked the video, confirming that Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar never made such a statement and calling the viral clip “fake.”

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Verdict

The viral video claiming Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar said India paid the Taliban to attack Pakistan is AI-generated and fake. No such statement was made, and the clip was digitally manipulated to spread misinformation.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar?
He is the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army’s Western Command.

Q2. How was the video proven fake?
AI detection tools such as Hiya Voice Detector and Hive Moderation identified deepfake elements in the video, while visual inconsistencies further confirmed manipulation.

Q3. Has the government addressed this claim?
The PIB Fact Check unit publicly debunked the viral video as fake.

Q4. What should I do if I come across such videos?
Avoid sharing them and verify with trusted sources like government handles or credible fact-checking outlets before forwarding.

Sources
YouTube Video By ANI, Dated October 14, 2025
Hive Moderation Website
Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector Tool
X Post By PIB Fact Check, Dated October 17, 2025