NEW DELHI: Thursday night turned into a nightmare for Indians both at home and abroad, as all airports across India were abruptly shut down and blackouts were observed in various cities, sparking widespread panic among the population.
According to Indian media reports, the sudden developments prompted people to queue at petrol stations, withdraw cash from ATMs, and stock up on essential supplies.
Throughout the day, Indian media outlets were engaged in intense war rhetoric, reporting significant military gains against Pakistan and even suggesting a naval strike on the port of Karachi. Some commentators went as far as claiming that such an attack could alter Pakistan’s map.
However, by morning, it became evident that the situation on the ground remained largely stable, and many of the media reports were unfounded.
Analysts have questioned the role of the Indian media, which had spread fake news and caused confusion and fear among their people under the influence of the BJP government.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson on Friday challenged India to present evidence, if it has any, that Pakistan carried out missile and drone strikes on Indian military installations, accusing Indian media of disseminating fabricated stories.
“Pakistan has not used drones or rockets. If India claims otherwise, let it present evidence,” Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry challenged. He criticised Indian media for spreading “fabricated stories.”
It is pertinent to mention that the tensions between India and Pakistan simmered after India on Tuesday launched air strikes targeting different cities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military said India targeted six locations, and at least 33 civilians were killed and 57 others injured in the strikes and cross-border firing along the Line of Control.
Pakistan military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Thursday said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully shot down 77 Israeli-manufactured Harop drones launched from India, using both soft-kill (technical) and hard-kill (weapons) measures.
According to Indian experts, ground reporting in India involves significant costs—employing journalists, deploying camera crews, covering travel, equipment, and ensuring safety, all of which can amount to several lakhs per story.
In contrast, many Indian news channels sidestep these expenses entirely. Instead, they rely on studio-based debates and pre-scripted narratives that often align with the political agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
This low-cost, high-output model has contributed to a surge in misinformation, where sensational debates replace real journalism.
Independent media often relies on a combination of government and private advertising, as well as subscriptions, to stay afloat.
However, the government and its allies frequently restrict this funding by withholding state advertisements and pressuring private companies to do the same, effectively starving independent outlets of vital financial support.
Experts believe that the irresponsible reporting by the Indian media is causing huge damage to the country.
They say that by projecting India as a volatile, unsafe place, they are undermining investor confidence and making it an undesirable destination for both business and tourism.
According to them, the damage can’t be undone by counter-propaganda, because day by day, the Indian public is witnessing that what appears in the media is largely bunkum.
