New Delhi: Soon after India carried out Operation Sindoor to hit targeted terror camps with missiles across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval spoke with his counterparts in several countries to brief them about the nature of military action and its purpose.
Among those Doval called included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK NSA Jonathan Powell, Saudi NSA Musaid Al Aiban, UAE NSA Sheikh Tahnoon, Secretary General of NSC of UAE Ali Al Shamsi, NSA of Japan Masataka Okano, Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, Chinese Foreign Affairs minister Wang Yi and Diplomatic Adviser to French President Emmanuel Bonne.
Describing the actions as restrained and measured, Doval emphasised that India had no intention of escalating matters but was well prepared to retaliate resolutely if Pakistan decide to escalate.
Even as world leaders like US President Donald Trump and UN secretary general Antonio Guterres urged India and Pakistan to show restraint, how did the global media report on Operation Sindoor?
There was massive media coverage across the world, with the tone and tenor of most leading media houses being to highlight the tensions, coming as it does in an already conflicted world, amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
In the United States, the New York Times led with the headline ‘India Launches Missile Strikes Inside Pakistan After Kashmir Attack’, and viewed the operation as a “major escalation” in the India-Pakistan conflict. The report emphasised that India had informed the US ahead of the strike, signalling an attempt to minimise international friction.
CNN’s coverage, with the headline ‘India and Pakistan on brink of wider conflict’, focused on advanced weaponry, like Rafale fighter jets and SCALP cruise missiles, used by India. The report mentioned that India’s strikes were aimed at terror infrastructure, and not at military assets or civilians.
‘Tensions Soar as India Strikes Pakistan, Islamabad Vows Response’, the Washington Post wrote. Its report called India’s action a “measured show of force”, highlighting its restraint to avoid military targets and limit civilian casualties.
BBC’s coverage reflected the international community’s concern about the possibility of further escalation if Pakistan strikes back.
COVERAGE OF SOME OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS
The Wall Street Journal – ‘India Targets Suspected Militant Sites in Pakistan Amidst Rising Tensions’
Chicago Tribune – ‘India Hits Pakistan with Missile Strikes Following Deadly Kashmir Attack
The Guardian – ‘India Launches Military Strikes Inside Pakistan as Kashmir Tensions Explode’
Financial Times – ‘India-Pakistan Crisis Escalates as New Delhi Orders Missile Strikes’
The Economist – ‘India strikes Pakistan to avenge a terrorist attack’
The Times London – ‘India Bombs Pakistan After Tourist Massacre, Raising Fears of Conflict’
ABC News – ‘India Strikes Nine Pakistani Targets’
Le Monde – ‘New Delhi Strikes Pakistani Territory in Response to Deadly Attack
Japan Times — India strikes Pakistan over Kashmir tourist killings
Japan Today – ‘India strikes Pakistan over tourist killings; Pakistan says Indian jets downed’
The Times of Israel – ‘Israel Backs India’s Right to Self-Defence After Strikes on Pakistan’.
