Bad News Makes Headlines

Is Pakistan Terrorist? Front-page Perspective of Mainstream American Newspapers during Obama’s First-year, 2015

US President Barack H. Obama’s first year of presidency, January 2009 – January 2010, observes unprecedented surge in overt and covert counterterrorism operations of American military and intelligence and drone strikes in Pakistan which is a non-NATO ally and a frontline state in the “War on Terror” since 9/11. For the last two and half years, Mr. Obama’s counterterrorism policies are being criticized by American academia, politicians and media and giving a speech at National Defense University in May 2013, President Obama vows to rebuild Pak-US relations. This article takes a closer look that what went wrong between the two countries and how the mainstream US press covered the phenomenon and played its social and democratic role for informed citizenry during Obama’s first year. Since US press works on the behalf of American public and creates a liaison between government and the people on important foreign policy issues thus it is pertinent to explore that how American mainstream newspapers opine about Pakistan’s position in South Asia, Pakistani politics and army/ISI, nuclear assets and US aid diplomacy in relation to Obama’s counterterrorism war to win the “War on Terror.” Applying Thematic Analysis method with the framework of Social Responsibility Theory of Press, propaganda and propaganda principles of Anne Morelli, the study finds that the press instead of reporting on Pakistan is running an anti-Pakistan information operation parallel to the military, foreign policy and strategic agenda of the “Golden Triangle” (the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon) to force Pakistan to bow in front of American demands to fight the “War on Terror” at the cost of its men, material, internal and external security and political stability. The mainstream newspapers support the idea of the “Golden Triangle” to control Pakistani politics, army and nuclear assets and they are manipulating public perception and opinion accordingly instead of doing objective reporting. Thus the study discovers obnoxious criticism against Pakistan based on incorrect, superficial and subjective reporting that portrays Pakistan as a country that uses terrorism as its official policy hence it is a threat to regional and world peace and poses danger to US security, foreign policy and strategic interests in the South Asian region.

Terrorism and Political Violence, 2014

2022

Lives of those who challenge Pakistan state narrative are at risk. Dr Shabir Choudhry. Human rights activists and dissidents who live in Europe and dare to challenge policies of the Pakistani state are in danger. They must not assume that because they live thousands of miles away from Pakistan, therefore, they are safe. Pakistani ruling elite, their foot soldiers and proxy warriors intimidate, harass and attack those who oppose and defy the state policies of Pakistan. This happens in nearly all European countries where dissidents with conscience reside and expose wrongdoings of those who promote extremism, violence, religious hatred and intolerance. Read more: http://drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com/2022/02/lives-of-those-who-challenge-pakistan.html

The study WAR ON TERROR IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEWS COVERAGE OF DAILY JANG-KARACHI FROM JUNE 2001 TO JANUARY 2005 finds collective narrative compelling and seems to be legitimizing the Taliban strategy, justifies their violent methods, spread their ideology and creates levels of acceptance of their goals among the generic readers of the newspaper. The collective narraitve comprises anti-american sentiments and reflects dislike, fear and hostality towards the government of the United States. Pakistan was left with no other option but to take side with the United States against Taliban. President Pervez Musharraf did what he could to save Taliban from the United States but Taliban’s lack of political vision and immaturity let them face the furry of the US. Pakistan was justified in meddling into Afghanistan internal affairs. Data is rarely presented and made a subject of the discussion in editorials of the newspaper. Most of the time opinions are mere expressions of the troment or jubiliation that the author is going through. International world has been, in most cases, accused of not understanding Pakistan’s political compulsions with most countries (chiefly western) busy in conspiring agaisnt Pakistan and Muslim Ummah. There seems to be a practice of discourging the award of bylines to individual reporters, however, a big number of news is received from generic sources such as newsagencies, Tv and radio reporting. These TV and radio reports have never been sourced to any sppecific TV channel or radio service. Basic components of news such as objectivity, balancing and fairness and right to reply are alien concepts for the worlds’ largest Urdu language newspaper.

The study WAR ON TERROR IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEWS COVERAGE OF DAILY JANG-KARACHI FROM JUNE 2001 TO JANUARY 2005 finds collective narrative compelling and seems to be legitimizing the Taliban strategy, justifies their violent methods, spread their ideology and creates levels of acceptance of their goals among the generic readers of the newspaper. The collective narraitve comprises anti-american sentiments and reflects dislike, fear and hostality towards the government of the United States. Pakistan was left with no other option but to take side with the United States against Taliban. President Pervez Musharraf did what he could to save Taliban from the United States but Taliban’s lack of political vision and immaturity let them face the furry of the US. Pakistan was justified in meddling into Afghanistan internal affairs. Data is rarely presented and made a subject of the discussion in editorials of the newspaper. Most of the time opinions are mere expressions of the troment or jubiliation that the author is going through. International world has been, in most cases, accused of not understanding Pakistan’s political compulsions with most countries (chiefly western) busy in conspiring agaisnt Pakistan and Muslim Ummah. There seems to be a practice of discourging the award of bylines to individual reporters, however, a big number of news is received from generic sources such as newsagencies, Tv and radio reporting. These TV and radio reports have never been sourced to any sppecific TV channel or radio service. Basic components of news such as objectivity, balancing and fairness and right to reply are alien concepts for the worlds’ largest Urdu language newspaper.

2020

This book offers a critical analysis of radicalization in Pakistan by deconstructing the global and the official state narratives designed to restrain Pakistani radicalization. Chapters are centered around three distinct themes: educational norms, religious practices, and geopolitical aspects of radicalization to examine the prevalent state and global practices that propagate Pakistani radicalization discourse. The book argues that there is both a global agenda, which presents Pakistan as the epicenter and sponsor of terrorism, and a domestic, or official, agenda that portrays Pakistan as the state that sacrificed and suffered the most in the recent War on Terror, which allows the country to gain sympathy as a victim. Delineating both conflicting agendas through a critical analysis of global and state practices in order to understand the myths and narratives of radicalization in Pakistan constructed by powerful elites, the book enables readers to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. A multidisciplinary critical approach to comprehending radicalization in Pakistan with innovative prescriptions for counter-radicalization policy, this book will be of interest to researchers working in the fields of International Relations, Security Studies, Asian Politics, as well as Religious Studies and Education, in particular in the context of South Asia.

This paper examines the current confrontation between Pakistani state and militant Islamist groups through the lens of social constructivism. Based on the core constructivist belief that 'ideas matter', this paper critically examines some popular narratives in Pakistan which support the militants' worldview. It attempts to identify the factors which inspire Pakistani public to sanction the extremists' narratives. This paper also explores the alternative ideas within the shared paradigm of religion in Pakistan, which, if promoted through education, may reduce the growing religious radicalism in the country.