CLAIM

Video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitting Pakistan shot down Indian Rafale fighter jets during May 2025 conflict

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search to trace the original source of the video and conducted a forensic analysis to authenticate the clip.

Multiple Pakistani users on social media platform X have been sharing a video since February 17, 2026, which shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitting that Pakistan downed New Delhi’s Rafale fighter jets during the May 2025 conflict between the neighbours. However, the clip is doctored.

Pakistan and India fought in a four-day conflict earlier in May 2025. Indian fighter jets were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force on the night of May 6-7 in response to the Indian Air Force’s late-night missile strikes at six Pakistani sites.

Pakistan took down six Indian jets, including three advanced French Rafale planes. According to a Dawn report, three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one Mirage 2000 and one MiG-29 were downed within 40 minutes. Not one Pakistani jet crossed the border or engaged in close combat.

HOW IT STARTED

On Feb 17, an X account that frequently shares misleading content posted a video of Modi with the caption: “Breaking News: Prime Minister Modi speaks at India-France Historic Missile Deal.

“‘Now if Pakistan decides to destroy our 10 or 200 Rafale jets, it will not matter anymore because France is our partner. We will create new jets and keep flying them. Pakistan will never be able to defeat our firepower’.”

The post gathered 50,000 views.

In the clip, Modi can be heard saying: “The entire world was making fun of India when Pakistan downed Rafale jets. People said no one would enter a venture with India. At that point, we told President Macron that India is going through a difficult time, and that you are also responsible for India being ridiculed.

“We told him that if you refuse to stand with India, we will use the remaining Rafales as donkey carts … and Macron agreed. India doesn’t care now if Pakistan takes down 10 jets of ours or 200 jets because France is now our defence partner.”

The clip was also shared by a pro-military user on X with the caption: “Modi accepted India’s defeat to Pakistan in front of the whole world and confirmed that a Rafales were shot down.”

The post gained 43,800 views.

Consequently, the video began circulating on X, as seen here, here, here, here, and here.

The video was shared on Instagram and Facebook as well, as seen here, here, here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in Pakistan-India ties.

A keyword search was conducted to corroborate whether any credible Indian, Pakistani or international media outlets had reported such remarks, but yielded no results.

Analysing the clip with AI-detection tool Detect Video AI flagged it as having a “moderate” confidence level, adding that it had “very low texture in frame — possible AI smoothing/synthetic appearance”.

A reverse image search yielded the original video of Modi’s speech dated Feb 17, 2026, on the YouTube account of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He spoke at a joint press meet in Mumbai with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is currently visiting India.

In the original video, Modi spoke about the India-France ties and how they were a partnership for global stability and progress. He also highlighted cooperation between the two nations in fields of defence, innovation, trade, and advanced technologies.

Modi’s speech was also covered by several Indian and international news outlets, such as ANI, AFP, The New Indian Express, and Tribune India, none of which reported any such comments made by him.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral video shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitting Pakistan shot down Rafale fighter jets during the May 2025 conflict is false.

The video is doctored and has been dubbed over through AI.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES:

Feb 17, 2026, YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PyDANj4W3M

Feb 17, 2026, ANI article:
https://aninews.in/news/world/asia/partnership-of-the-people-pm-modi-says-india-france-year-of-innovation-to-transform-bilateral-ties20260217184006

Feb 17, 2026, AFP article:
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260217-follow-live-macron-modi-hold-joint-press-event-in-mumbai-during-india-visit

Feb 17, 2026, New Indian Express report:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Feb/17/india-france-elevate-ties-to-special-global-strategic-partnership-2

Feb 18, 2026, Tribune India report:
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/india-france-forge-strategic-partnership-with-focus-on-global-stability-progress/amp