It often happens, and regrettably so, that the media in many countries tends to play a rather jingoistic and nationalistic role during times of war. When a war is actually underway and being fought, that may make sense to some extent given the need for the national/public morale to remain. This is what happened during the 1965 India-Pakistan war when songs by Madam Noor Jehan kept the nation’s spirits high. However, the situation right now is completely different. Pakistan is not at war with any country and certainly does not need a war either. To make this point further clear, Pakistan can hardly afford a war with the world’s sole superpower, a country that also happens to be its largest trading partner and second-largest foreign investor. If anything, the media should be asking the nation at large, and in particular the centres of power — who will decide how to deal with the crisis — to look inward and gauge whether the fault for the present tension perhaps lies with us, because of our actions — or inactions.
By no means does this mean that we should take such allegations lying down, in fact they need to be responded to, but not by beating the war drum, thumping our collective national chest and demanding that we give America a response that it will never forget. Let’s also not forget that the military, which is perhaps the key arbiter in this whole situation (though ideally this role should lie with civilian government and parliament), has benefitted immensely over the years from military aid and cooperation with the US and would be hurt by any permanent break in ties and/or cut in assistance. Any response to America — and the media, need to emphasise this point — should come not from the heart or the fist but from the mind and reason/logic. Can an economy withstand a permanent break in ties with the US? What would happen to foreign aid from multilateral donors and foreign investors since America has influence over them as well? Do we have other allies to fall back on? To what extent would these other nations come to our aid given that most of them, except perhaps Iran, have thriving ties with America? And perhaps, equally importantly, what kind of sovereignty are we talking about given that the state’s own writ doesn’t extend to large parts of Fata and many settled districts?
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2011.
COMMENTS (15)
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@faraz
1) Allied forces were defeated till 1942 in WWII. Similarl, Ppl think they won, bcz they defended the focal point of Indian Army, the LAHORE. & the PAF superiority over IAF just after the 7th September. Remember: Israel always won wars bcz of air superiority. Its 21st century. Army and Tanks are nothing. France have 400 tanks, Pakistan Army is bigger than US (Not the Air force and Navy). So try to understand why we say we win.
2) Why the ppl call we lost, bcz we did not get the KASHMIR.
3) Again, India is 7 times bigger than us. Any doubt?
@Arindom: The Haqqanis don't need the support of the Pakistanis anyway. Triumph isn't their main goal here, it's fighting; and the Pashtuns are known to fight till the end. The warring Afghans are clear on thing -- getting rid of an occupier. And besides, Pakistan will never make a mistake in abandoning a staunch ally in the form of the Pashtuns.-
@Arindom: The Haqqanis don't need the support of the Pakistanis anyway. Triumph isn't their main goal here, it's fighting; and the Pashtuns are known to fight till the end. The warring Afghans are clear on thing -- getting rid of an occupier. And besides, Pakistan will never make a mistake in abandoning a staunch ally in the form of the Pashtuns.
Pakistan news media should shut down their war drum histerias and turn their efforts to more constructive solutions directed at the establishment and civilian government. With media power in their hands they should be directing their efforts in calming the populas instead of stoking the ambers into fire and on to inforno.
After 1965, 1971, and Kargil now it is time again for a military adventure. Once again like the past the result would be the same!
Pakistan is destroying itself in pursuit of destroying India.
Are the Haqqanis, who anyways are beyond the pale of the State, so important that Pakistan is talking of going to War FOR them? a bunch of mountain tribesmen, who donot respect any sort of Law? Isn't this crazy?
"Any response to America — and the media, need to emphasise this point — should come not from the heart or the fist but from the mind and reason/logic." Pakistan cannot understand any such statement. The wahabbist saudi arabian culture knows only war mongering and violence. Look around Pakistan on the western side. Violence is part of the culture for centuries there.
In fact, it is time for War Hysteria!
Pakistan needs to gear up and fight. But no the USA. That's the wrong tree currently Pakistani establishment is barking on.
The war the establishment has to fight is with a small portion of Pakistani extremists, who have been armed and control areas of Pakistan. The war is to ensure the writ of Pakistan will run on entire nation, not some provinces. The war should be to redefine Pakistan as a nation ruled by law, not by militia or military.
If Pakistan can't whip itself to war hysteria now, in about 5-10years, there won't be a Pakistan to defend.
Good well balances editorial If the army and ISI were under the control of civilian authorities such situation would not have arisen
Brandishing that pointy thing in camouflage paint in front of the US embassy does not send a very good message.
People seriously believe that we won the 1965 war
Well said, thank you for talking common sense.