Viral video claims Shashi Tharoor praised Pakistan — here’s what he actually said

LAHORE: A viral video claiming that Shashi Tharoor praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role while criticising India has been debunked, after the politician himself called it out as fake.

The clip, widely circulated on social media, appeared to show Tharoor commenting on Pakistan’s alleged role in US-Iran developments and contrasting it with India “celebrating cinematic fantasies.” The video also referenced reactions to Donald Trump, further fuelling debate online.

However, Tharoor took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that the video was not real and part of a growing wave of AI-generated misinformation.

“There are an alarming number of deepfake videos circulating of me, with convincing-sounding AI-generated voiceovers over genuine footage of old interviews, having ‘me’ saying things I have never said,” he wrote.

He expressed concern over how quickly such content is being believed and shared. “Disappointed that so many on social media are believing these lies and issuing baseless comments attacking me for purported views that I have not expressed,” he added.

Tharoor also shared a simple way to verify authenticity: if a statement or video does not appear on his official timeline or that of a credible media outlet, it should be treated as fake.

The clarification comes amid earlier discussions around Pakistan’s reported involvement in diplomatic backchannels during US-Iran tensions. While some reports suggested a limited role acknowledged by Iran, Tharoor had previously framed the situation as “embarrassing” for India in terms of missed diplomatic opportunity — not as praise for Pakistan, as the viral clip suggested.

The incident highlights the growing threat of deepfake content in political discourse, where altered videos can quickly spread and shape public perception before being verified.