Pakistan deputy PM faces backlash over fake PAF image in Parliament

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has triggered widespread criticism after citing a fake AI-generated newspaper image during a parliamentary speech, falsely attributing praise of Pakistan’s air force to the UK’s Daily Telegraph. The incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation during periods of international tension, particularly as Pakistan and India exchange conflicting claims about recent military engagements without providing conclusive evidence to support their assertions.

The big picture: A senior Pakistani government official publicly cited a fake AI-generated news clipping as legitimate evidence of international recognition for Pakistan’s military capabilities.

• During a parliamentary session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar referenced an image supposedly from The Daily Telegraph describing Pakistan’s air force as the “undisputed king of the skies.”
• The fake image had circulated widely on social media platforms and was shared by multiple Pakistani journalists before being debunked.

Pattern of problematic evidence: Pakistani officials have repeatedly relied on unverified social media content as proof for significant military claims during recent tensions with India.

• Defence Minister Khawaja Asif cited “proof all over social media” when questioned by CNN about claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently claimed Pakistan shot down six specific Indian aircraft (three Rafales, one SU-30MKI, one Mirage 2000, and one MiG-29), but has yet to provide concrete evidence.

Why this matters: The incident underscores how AI-generated fake content is creating challenges for international diplomacy and security during periods of heightened tension.

• Social media has been flooded with fabricated images, news, and claims since India-Pakistan tensions escalated, complicating efforts to establish ground truth in the conflict.

The response: Despite being publicly called out for citing the fake image, Dar has not issued any clarification about his parliamentary statement.

Behind the numbers: Pakistan’s military claims regarding downing specific Indian aircraft have steadily increased from five to six jets without corresponding increases in verifiable evidence.