Global Anglo-Saxon media helps manage Pakistan as a terror state

Never did I imagine that writing this piece would take days. Trained to be careful with words I have tried to be so here. Journalists I respect re newspapers, listen to rio, watch television news, are active on social media and take stands on issues. y are also well re on many issues and continue to re. Conviction and well-argued positions stand test of time.

Terrorists trained in Pakistan attacked India recently killing security personnel in Pulwama, Kashmir. Global terrorist and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar who operates from Pakistan in full view of world masterminded this attack as he has many ors. India avenged killings with aerial attacks on Balakote in Pakistan. Self -respecting countries do this. Period.

I am calling out arrogance and ignorance of influential Anglo-Saxon media, in particular Washington Post, CNN, New York Times, Guardian and Economist (calling m media permanent five of ir masters) and ir extensions in India for appalling reporting and editorials on terrorist attacks in Pulwama. ir mealy-moud bits on Balakote and ir business as usual dismissal of India shows m up for who y are.

se are respected media organisations in sphere y have chosen to be. ir extensions in India are baggage handlers. Outsourcing has benefits, but it also has a brutal downside and ir combined reporting of events in India over few weeks has exposed m all.

This is ir current doublespeak. re’s a pattern and an algorithm to it and that partly explains why it took me time to re-confirm a deces-old trend to write this piece. Attacks on US United Kingdom (UK) become geo-strategic. Attacks on India are regional. Patriotism in India is Hindu zealots. Patriotism in US and UK is cute – you know, people get emotional when it comes to ir countries. only intelligent people in India are those who speak English. Indian intelligence agencies cannot be trusted and re is no organisation worth its name for national security. CIA is gold standard and stop complaining about wig. This is “we” enlightened who will continue telling “you” natives what you must think and do especially when it comes to protecting your borders.

outsourcer and outsourced work in concert and feign ignorance. y go to same markets and ponds fishing for information and y look down on Indians who cannot speak ir English. English is a link, not a barometer. Culture and genuine conflict teaches you this. What Anglo Saxon media misses is respect for diversity and difference and simple fact that respect demands respect. re are standard operating procedures in any market. Remember barter?

I know journalists have to fight for column inches in ir newsrooms. When Pulwama happened, re was hardly any news in Anglo Saxon p5. Balakot probably stunned m because India used air power, but it was more important to watch Michael Cohen tell stories to American Congress. n bogey of nuclear weapons started and “restraint” was word of moment. War is not an option for anybody.

I am revolted that Indian politicians, especially in India’s opposition, are asking our armed forces to prove ir mettle. I find it galling that this media punditry to get a heline is raised to level of securing a national border. This is warfare and re are vested interests in Anglo-Saxon media defending vast military-industrial and tre complex. same applies to Russia and China, but y play an altoger different game. It’s called deep dive. War is not warfare and I am not even sure senior reporters in se organisations understand difference.

As I write, re is intense military activity in Indian border with Pakistan. I trust Indian armed forces do ir job and I learn from defence experts. I follow a few because I want to learn, not double guess. To do that, you require vast experience and domain knowledge.

In all years I have known western news organisations, I have rarely if ever seen a person of colour he it in India. I now know why – y have Indian media houses to do local heavy lifting that includes propaganda. Living between India and Switzerland and availing of time zones, technology helps me track where run-India-down campaign originates in media. It is within kilometre in New Delhi, superbly stamped by someone as Khan Market consensus. This is an upscale market in Delhi also notorious for selling fakes.

When you have no conviction or domain knowledge you cannot tell difference between fact and fiction, fake or genuine and you are part of a herd. I call m G 37 – same place, same people and same arguments forty years later looking for relevance.

My view is this. Pakistan is a failed state that continues to fail itself. y do not need tre because terror is ir automatic teller machine (ATM). country is an asset under management (AUM) for large military-industrial complexes that stretch from China to United States (US). y also service countries in region shopping for terrorists.

And here’s a story. In May 1998, when India became a nuclear power three diplomats visited me at my press office at UN’s European hequarters in Geneva. only one who asked me why India needed a nuclear weapon was a diplomat from UK. I told him India has a long border with China, a nuclear weapon state, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) does not protect our country and India’s defence is in secure Indian hands with Indians. In return I asked him why UN P5 (US, UK, France, China and Russia) scattered cities in Asia, Middle East and Africa with land mines that killed and maimed innocent people. India uses m only to secure its borders. Re people, re. Pakistan tested shortly afterwards. diplomat was silent.

Yes. I am Indian and I am a patriot. I believe in India. I am deeply invested in my country across sectors. I will and have called out every government that does not speak to India of here and now. I respect intelligent opposition. I am proud to be part of Indian media, one of world’s freest. My responsibility includes protecting handlers’ freedom but I am not blind.

To Anglo-Saxon media and ir extensions in India I say this. I saw you spin that bogey of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), pedalled by Washington and London to bomb Iraq. I saw you report from comfort and security of Intercontinental Hotel in Sarajevo during Bosnian war when you claimed to be on ground.

Here’s a thought for people not connected with media in India. Get yourself news alerts. Watch pattern. Draw your own conclusions. world’s largest democracy is our drawing board. Something has changed in India. Nothing has changed in India. Only over 830 million Indians who will vote in world’s largest democratic exercise can soon decide. If Indians do not trust government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, y will vote him out. I trust my country.

( views and opinions expressed within this article are personal opinions of author. facts, analysis, assumptions and perspective appearing in article needn't reflect views of Republic TV/ Republic World/ ARG Outlier Media Pvt. Ltd.)