CLAIM:

Viral video of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying RSS and Afghan Taliban share same ideology

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 pro-military accounts on social media platform X shared a clip on January 20, 2026, allegedly showing Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — a Hindu nationalist organisation — and the Afghan Taliban share the same religion and ideology. However, the video is doctored through AI.

Ties between New Delhi and Kabul have warmed in recent months, with India deciding to upgrade its relations with the Taliban government. On January 13, the first Afghan chargé d’affaires, Noor Ahmed Noor, visited New Delhi to lead the Afghan Embassy and strengthen ties between the two countries.

While India has not officially recognised the Taliban government, recent developments have signalled a deepening engagement, with New Delhi seeking to exploit divisions between Islamabad and Kabul.

HOW IT STARTED:

On January 20, an X account that appears to be anti-Indian based on its previous posts and is known for repeatedly posting doctored videos, shared a clip of Singh with the following caption: “Breaking: ‘The RSS and Afghan Taliban share the same ideology, the same faith, our unity is one, and our common enemy is Pakistan. Israel is India’s strategic partner and the Afghan Taliban’s predecessor. We must unite to destroy Pakistan.’- Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.”

The post gained 61,400 views.

Another X account, seemingly pro-military, shared the same video with the same caption on X, collecting 20,500 views.

A Pakistani journalist, Rizwan Razi, also shared the same clip with the caption: “What is he trying to say?” His post gathered 18,300 views.

Other users on X also widely shared the clip, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here; collectively gaining more than 32,000 views.

METHODOLOGY:

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

A keyword search yielded no news reports from credible news and media outlets on the Indian defence minister’s alleged remarks.

Analysing the video with AI-detection tool Deepfake Total flagged the audio of the clip as being 46.6 per cent AI-generated.

Meanwhile, a reverse image search yielded the original video of Singh, dated Jan 19, 2026, posted on the defence minister’s official YouTube channel. The video was titled: “Inaugural ceremony of Medium Calibre Ammunition Facility constructed by Solar Industries in Nagpur.”

It showed Singh addressing the audience during the inauguration ceremony of the Medium Calibre Ammunition Facility in Nagpur. He did not mention the Taliban or India’s ideology during his speech.

The inauguration ceremony was covered by the Press Information Bureau as well as multiple other reputable media outlets, such as First India, DD News, Times of India, and ANI news, none of which reported any such comments made by Singh.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral video shows Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying that the RSS and Taliban share the same religion and ideology is false.

The video is doctored through AI.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES:

Jan 18, 2026, Rajnath Singh’s YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/live/c_fwS4Lk8Lk?t=664s

Jan 18, 2026, Press Information Bureau press release:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215884&reg=3&lang=1

Jan 18, 2026, First India news article:
https://firstindia.co.in/news/delhi/maharashtra-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-to-inaugurate-ammunition-facility-in-nagpur

Jan 18, 2026, Times of India news article:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/maharashtra-rajnath-singh-to-inaugurate-medium-calibre-ammo-facility-lauds-army-modernisation/articleshow/126638229.cms

Jan 18, 2026, ANI news article:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=883823387568395

Jan 18, 2026, DD News article:
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/rajnath-singh-inaugurates-ammunition-facility-in-nagpur-reiterates-push-for-aatmanirbharta-in-defence-manufacturing/