A fake video spread fast on social media. It showed Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening Pakistan. The video claimed Putin warned Pakistan over its actions in Afghanistan. It also mentioned support from China. The Russian Embassy in Pakistan called it "100% fake." Independent fact-checkers agreed. This happened amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
❌ A video in which Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly threatens Pakistan amid Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions is 100% FAKE.
— Embassy of Russia in Pakistan (@RusEmbPakistan) October 30, 2025
👉 The clip actually shows President Putin answering questions from the media after a meeting of the Russian Geographical Society's Board of… pic.twitter.com/UwvpZ8V9ku
The video appeared on X, once called Twitter. Pro-Afghan and Indian users shared it. In the clip, Putin seems to speak in Russian. But subtitles in Urdu make it look like he is warning Pakistan's army. The fake message says: If Pakistan attacks Afghanistan again, the response will not come only from Kabul. It will be serious. The video adds that this is not just Russia's view. China feels the same. Pakistan cannot afford to be stuck in the middle.
The original footage is real. But it was changed with AI. The real video is from October 23, 2025. Putin spoke at a meeting in Moscow. It was for the Russian Geographical Society's Board of Trustees. He answered questions from the media. He talked about U.S. sanctions. He did not mention Pakistan or Afghanistan at all. The embassy said the clip was doctored. They made this clear in a statement.
The embassy stressed Russia's stance. Russia wants peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries are friends to Russia. They support talks to solve differences. This includes issues on terrorism and security. The embassy said: "We emphasise that Russia supports the resolution of Pak-Afghan differences through political and diplomatic means and favours the resumption of constructive dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan."
This deepfake highlights a big problem. AI can make fake videos that look real. These videos can spread lies. In areas with conflicts, this is dangerous. It can make tensions worse. People might believe the fake news. This can lead to more fights.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have bad relations now. Tensions rose after border clashes. On October 11, 2025, an attack came from Afghanistan. It hit Pakistan. Soon after, the Taliban said Pakistan did airstrikes in Afghanistan. Both sides blamed each other. They agreed to a ceasefire on October 19. It happened in Doha. But talks did not work well.
More talks happened in Istanbul. Turkiye and Qatar helped. They lasted four days. But no agreement came. The Afghan side tried to change the topic. Pakistan showed proof of terrorism. The hosts saw it too. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar spoke about it. He said the Afghan delegation used blame-shifting. They made excuses. They delayed things.
Tarar added: "Pakistan has always negotiated with the intent of peace, but unfortunately, the Afghan Taliban government is constantly aiding anti-Pakistan terrorists." He said Pakistan will protect its people. The Taliban broke promises from the Doha Agreement. Tarar warned: "The Taliban government is neither accountable to its own people nor interested in peace. It thrives on a war economy and is pushing the people of Afghanistan towards another devastating war."
Now, talks might start again. Pakistan agreed to try more. They want to give peace a chance. The main issue is terrorism. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to stop its land from being used for attacks. They need clear actions against terrorists.
Fact-checkers looked at the video. Groups like Azaad Fact Check called it AI-generated. They said it is part of a campaign. Indo-Afghan users spread false news. Afghan Analyst on X also shared the embassy's words. They noted both sides use AI propaganda.
Deepfakes are not new. In May 2025, another fake video showed Putin calling Pakistan a terrorist country. It was debunked too. In June, deepfakes appeared during India-Pakistan issues. Experts say AI tools make this easy. Anyone can create fakes. Social media helps them go viral.
Why target Pakistan and Afghanistan? The region has old problems. Borders are disputed. Terrorism crosses lines. The Taliban took power in 2021. Since then, attacks increased. Pakistan blames groups like TTP. They hide in Afghanistan. The Taliban denies it.
Russia has ties with both. Putin met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in September 2025. It was in Beijing. They talked about cooperation. China is close to Pakistan too. But the fake video tried to show Russia and China against Pakistan.
This incident shows risks of disinformation. In a tense area, fakes can spark real harm. Governments must fight it. Social media should check content. Users need to verify before sharing.
The quick debunk helped. The embassy acted fast. Fact-checkers spread the truth. But the video reached thousands. Some might still believe it.
In the end, this deepfake failed. But it reminds us: AI can trick us. We must stay alert. Peace needs truth, not lies
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