On September 7, Pakistan Air Force released an AI generated video titled ‘Fizaon Ke Pasbaan’ (Guardians of the Skies), to mark Pakistan Air Force Day. The video purportedly presents Pakistan's version of the conflict with India during Operation Sindoor. It claims that Pakistan struck 32 Indian air bases, destroyed two S-400 systems and shot down eight Indian aircraft. It also depicts attacks on India's Parliament, INS Vikrant and Kandla Port, along with claims of satellite jamming and disruption of India's power grid.

India has acknowledged that it suffered aircraft losses during the operation. But it has not confirmed Pakistan's claimed number. India has also said that its forces struck Pakistani military infrastructure and targeted 11 military installations. The conflicting claims show how the battlefield narrative has continued even after the fighting ended.

This is what makes Fizaon Ke Pasbaan significant. The most important task for the Pakistan Army is not only to defend Pakistan. It is also to convince Pakistani people that it is defending Pakistan from India. This helps explain the latest AI generated video released by the Pakistan Air Force. For a military establishment that has virtually controlled Pakistan's politics, maintaining this image of strength is important for maintaining public trust and legitimacy.

The video is not necessarily aimed at convincing military analysts, who look for evidence such as satellite imagery, debris and official records. It’s more important audience is the Pakistani public. The objective is to create an image of victory and reinforce the belief that Pakistan's military emerged stronger from the conflict.

The timing of this video’s release is important. The video came after the release of Discovery Plus’ ‘Declassified: Operation Sindoor’, which featured first-hand accounts from Indian military and national security officials. The documentary presented India's account of the conflict to a global audience. Therefore, Pakistan's military establishment faced another challenge of controlling how the narrative of how the war was remembered at home.

Pakistan has a long history of using official narratives to shape public understanding of its wars with India. Newspapers, radio, television and textbooks were once the main tools. During the 1965 war, Pakistani newspapers portrayed the conflict as a Pakistani success and the eventual ceasefire as a victory, while depicting it as defence against an Indian invasion. Stories of extraordinary Pakistani military achievements and even supernatural intervention were also circulated to maintain public morale.

Today, social media and artificial intelligence have added a new dimension. AI can create convincing images of aircraft, missile strikes and battlefield victories without providing evidence that the events actually happened. AI can make propaganda faster, cheaper and more visually convincing.

The reaction to the video in Pakistan has also been mixed. Some praised its production quality, while others mocked its exaggerated visuals and claims. Critics questioned why a supposedly decisive military victory needed to be presented through AI generated scenes instead of verifiable evidence. The criticism highlights the growing public fatigue with exaggerated nationalist claims.

Pakistan termed the 2-minute AI video as “undeniable proof” of beating S400 and downing Indian planes. A missile strike can be shown. An aircraft can be shown being destroyed. An airbase can be shown burning. But an AI generated image is still not evidence. For Pakistan's military establishment, the technology may have changed, but the objective remains familiar: make the public believe that the military is winning.

Savio Rodrigues

Savio Rodrigues is a Research Analyst at Escape Velocity MediaWorks Pvt Ltd and writes for Chakra News on Defence, Geopolitics, National Security. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mumbai.