Pakistan military spokesperson shares fake video to discredit Balakot strikes
What's the story
In February, the Indian Air Force eliminated Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps located in Balakot, Pakistan, by conducting airstrikes. However, Pakistan had denied the presence of any terror camps, claiming that the Indian forces only hit trees. Fast forward five months, and Pakistan Armed Forces Spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor is still peddling the same lie and even posted a doctored video to support his claims.
Details
Admission of Indian failure and losses on 27 February: Ghafoor
On Sunday, Ghafoor shared a video on Twitter where Retired Air Marshal Denzil Keelor purportedly admitted to the failure of the Indian forces while conducting the Balakot airstrikes on February 27, 2019. "Admission of Indian failure and losses on 27 February 2019 by a well-decorated Indian Airforce veteran Air Marshal Denzil Keelor," Ghafoor wrote in his tweet. However, the video is four years old.
Twitter Post
Here's the video tweeted by Ghafoor
Admission of Indian failure and losses on 27 February 2019 by a well decorated Indian Airforce veteran Air Marshal Denzil Keelor.#Surprise pic.twitter.com/uTeErbucCl
— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) July 28, 2019
Truth
Video taken from former Air Marshal's 2015 interview
Netizens quickly pointed out that the video has been taken from a 2015 interview that Keelor gave to Wilderness Films India. The interview titled 'Nehru lost India the war: Air Marshal Denzil Keelor speaks about India's battle losses' was posted on YouTube on August 9, 2015. In the interview, the former Air Marshal talks about the 1962 Sino-India war and the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Twitter Post
Netizens identified the video as fake
Maj Gen Ghafoor. Grow up. It's a lie. This video is not after balakot.. Btw hope you have not forgotten Denzil Keelor's brother Trevor got the first PAF Kill over chaamb jaurian sept 1965. @IAF_MCC @DefenceMinIndia
— Ajay Banerjee (@ajaynewsman) July 28, 2019
Twitter Post
'You should refrain from peddling amateurish morphed videos'
You leave no stone unturned to advertise your incurable 'foot in mouth' disease. At your level, you should refrain from peddling amateurish morphed videos that make you a laughing stock on global platform. Kindly get a better video editor who bothers to edit out the giveaways.
— Arijit Datta Ray (@Shonkho) July 28, 2019
Response
Admission and expression were too identical to differentiate: Ghafoor
After the strong reaction to the video, Ghafoor acknowledged that the video was doctored in a tweet. He wrote, "The clip of Air Marshal is revealed to be doctored through inset. Admission and expression were too identical to differentiate. Unintentional omission is acknowledged, especially to Indians. Nonetheless, environment remained unchanged for IAF on both the occasions." However, he fell short of an apology.
Twitter Post
Here is Ghafoor's tweet admitting to the video being doctored
The clip of Air Marshal is revealed to be doctored through inset. Admission and expression were too identical to differentiate. Unintentional omission is acknowledged, especially to Indians.
— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) July 28, 2019
Nonetheless, environment remained unchanged for IAF on both the occasions.