CLAIM
Viral clip of Indian Army official saying Chinese forces have taken over territories of Arunachal Pradesh
RATING JUSTIFICATION
The iVerify Pakistan team has investigated this content and determined it false.
To reach this analysis, iVerify Pakistan conducted forensic analysis as well as a reverse image search to trace the original video.
Multiple users shared a video on social media platform X on October 25, 2026, allegedly showing Indian Lieutenant General Girish Kalia claiming Chinese forces took over territories in Arunachal Pradesh. However, the video is doctored through AI.
Face-offs and violent physical clashes amongst the Chinese troops and Indian forces in the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Arunachal Pradesh are a common and regular occurrence, with several videos circulating on social media.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Indian armed forces have faced off in ongoing border friction with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet border, which has been a historical buffer state between the two countries.
Recently, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police director-general made remarks on Oct 22, 2026, that Indian and Chinese forces are locked in standoffs at more than one location along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier.
HOW IT STARTED
On Oct 25, a pro-military propaganda account on X, which has a history of sharing AI-generated content, shared a video of an Indian Army official in a press briefing.
The caption of the post reads: “General Officer Commanding (GOC) Spear Corps (3 Corps) Lieutenant General Girish Kalia (AVSM, VSM) tells the truth regarding Arunachal Pradesh: ‘It is indeed shameful that aggressor China has taken control of Asaphila, Longjou and Taksing Circle of Arunachal Pradesh. We have been requesting the central government for supplies, but we are being told that paramilitary forces should rather be deployed against Gen Z of Arunachal Pradesh instead of using them against China.’ Godi media wasn’t running it, but they have leaked it.”
The transcript of the clip is as follows: “It is indeed shameful that aggressor China has taken control of Asfila, Longzhu and Taksing circle of Arunachal Pradesh. We have been requesting the Centre Government for supplies, but we are being told that paramilitary forces should rather be deployed against Gen Z of Arunachal Pradesh instead of using them against China. What message is our Centre Government giving to our armed jawans? My 25 soldiers were arrested yesterday, and we don’t know their whereabouts. This just goes to show their level of interest in our territorial sovereignty.”
The post gained 34,919 views.
The same video was shared by an Indian account a few hours later with the following caption: “Shameful! Lt Gen Girish Kalia (GOC, Spear Corps) says China has taken control of Asaphila, Longju and Taksing Circle in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite requests for supplies, forces are reportedly being directed against Gen Z instead of China. Where is the accountability?”
That post accumulated 717,875 views.
Other accounts also shared that same clip in a similar context, as can be seen 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 the Sino-Indian conflict at the LAC.
A keyword search was conducted to corroborate whether any credible Indian or international media outlets have carried any such statements made as shown in the viral clip, but yielded no results.
The video was analysed using Google Gemini to detect the SynthID watermark, which identified a SynthID signal, showing that the video contained generative AI.
A reverse image search using keyframes from the first viral video yielded an X post by Indian news agency ANI, dated October 27, 2023, wherein the same Indian Army official can be seen talking about Indian Kashmir.
The transcript of the original clip is as follows:
“This has paved the way for development and promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. This normalcy has brought prosperity and growth, which has somehow not gone down well with the inimical elements. That is why there has been a constant endeavour from across the Line of Control to disturb this peace and vitiate the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir.
You all have been witness to the continuous attempts of infiltration being made from across the Line of Control. In the last eight months, we have had ten such attempts in our Divisional Area of Responsibility, which have resulted in the elimination of 27 terrorists and the recovery of large quantities of warlike stores. In addition, we have also recovered a huge quantity of narcotics, which establishes a deep nexus between the defence establishments in Pakistan and the terrorist groups.
They are all determined to create disturbance in the valley and impact the future of the generations in Jammu and Kashmir. You would also be aware of the recent operations in the Odisha sector, where a group of terrorists attempted to infiltrate, but our alert troops foiled the attempt and neutralised two terrorists. Yesterday’s operation, in a way, is a befitting tribute to our infantrymen who have worked tirelessly for the last many decades to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the valley.
The security forces are working in complete synergy today. We are committed to defeating any attempt of the enemy to disrupt the security situation in Kashmir Valley with firm resoluteness and steadfast commitment. I would now request SSP Kupwara to cover the intelligence part of the operation, and thereafter the Commanding Officer of 56 Rashtriya Rifles will cover the details of the operation which was conducted yesterday.”
Nowhere in the original clip is there any mention of Arunachal Pradesh, the Gen Z or the Chinese troops.
The Indian Military’s Chinar Corps official YouTube channel also covered the above briefing, corroborating the same.
The same press briefing was also covered by various other digital media outlets such as Jkupdate and Jammu Ladakh Vision; however, none showed any remarks made in the viral video.
FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE
The claim that an Indian Army official acknowledged that Chinese forces have taken over territories of Arunachal Pradesh is false.
The clip is doctored and dubbed over using AI.
EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES
Oct 27, 2023, original ANI X clip:
https://x.com/ANI/status/1717855033583382934
Chinar Corps original press briefing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vZnE5-07vg