Indian media's war hysteria may lead to catastrophic consequences.

ISLAMABAD -- The Indian media is biased in reporting the Kashmir issue which shows its complicity with Hindutva hardliners, especially after abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution.

This was the opinion of speakers at the seminar 'Post 5 August Reporting of Kashmir Issue with Special Reference to Indian Media', which was organized by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Islamabad in collaboration with Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Riphah Institute of Media Sciences (RIMS).

They were of the opinion that media is supposed to be the watchdog of democracy but Indian media is acting as the trumpet of the government. Its irrational aggressive posture only fuels war hysteria and the failure in observing peaceful journalism may lead the region to catastrophic consequences.

The session was addressed as chief guest by Syed Fakhar Imam, chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, and Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. It was chaired by Maj Gen (r) Sardar Muhamad Anwar Khan, former president and prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K).

The speakers included Dr. Farhan Mujahid Chak, Kashmiri-Canadian scholar and associate professor International Affairs at Qatar University, Sheikh Tajammul-ul-Islam, executive director, Kashmir Media Services, Dr Asma Shakir Khawaja, assistant professor, Faculty of Peace and Conflict Studies, National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, Brig (r) Said Nazir, IPS associate, Farzana Yaqoob, former minister, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and IPS associate, Mohsin Raza Khan, Director News, TV Today, Sardar Khan Niazi, editor, Pakistan and Vice-President, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Tariq Habib, Head of 'Investigation Cell' and 'Kashmir Crisis Cell', Dunya News; Correspondent, Anadolu News Agency (Turkey), and Rehman Azhar, anchorperson and special correspondent, Express News. The opening remarks were delivered by Executive President of IPS, Khalid Rahman.

Syed Fakhar Imam was of the opinion that Pakistan has always stood behind Kashmir and will never leave the Kashmiris on their own in their freedom struggle against the occupation of India. He termed the Indian media's coverage of the Kashmir issue a travesty of professional journalism. He also highlighted a shift in the way the international media is covering the Kashmir issue as it is not buying the Indian narrative.

Ali Muhammad Khan in his keynote speech deliberated on the...

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