Is Pakistan a soft target for US media?

[Edevelop]

Muhammad Waqas

Published — Sunday 23 March 2014

The relationship between US and Pakistan, supposedly close allies in the war on terror, has always been uneasy. It has undergone cold spells and been revived several times with hectic diplomatic efforts in the best interests of both nations. By defining public sentiments, the media has played an integral role in shaping this mercurial relationship. Unfortunately, Pakistan has often found itself at the receiving end of media coverage.

In some of the most vocal and influential media houses, Pakistan has often been portrayed in negative light and felt victimized. With distances now becoming irrelevant in today’s virtual world, such depiction hurts Pakistan’s public perception and standing in the world on various political and economic matters. Two recent news stories covered by the US media are a testament of this bias.

While the world anxiously awaited any news about the missing Malaysia Airline flight MH370, US media suggested that the flight could have flown for around extra four hours after losing contact with air traffic controllers. As absurd as it may sound, the US media believed that the flight could have been possibly hijacked and landed at an unknown location in Pakistan, most likely bordering Afghanistan. Although Pakistan claimed not to have identified any unknown aircraft in its airspace, the country’s surveillance capabilities were mocked for failing to halt US drone strikes and the air raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

In another news item, the US media has accused Pakistan’s intelligence and security forces for “collective incompetence and negligence” as Osama Bin Laden lived unnoticed in the country for over six years. While Pakistan has dismissed the report, its intelligence community stands accused of directly or indirectly supporting the world’s most wanted terrorist. The report also points out the influence of hard-line Islamists inside the country’s armed forces and how some officers are sympathetic to the cause of militants. The report goes on to criticize the US For its “contemptuous disregard of Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in the arrogant certainty of its unmatched military might.”

Some political commentators attribute the US media bias to growing influence of biased strategists in the US think-tank and political circles. By pumping several millions of dollars into lobbying efforts, these strategists are able to twist and hype various situations against Pakistan.
Although Pakistan’s own media is quite independent, it has been largely unable to counter the US media allegations or promote the official stance because of its own internal divisions and political affiliations. To overcome poor publicity, the onus lies on Pakistan to clean up its act. The country should start by building trust and repute in the international community by putting its words into action. Till then, Pakistan will continue to be closely scrutinized by the global media and attract unwanted attention for its actions.

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[Mir Shahzain]

Our own media is working against the interest of state, how we can blame others !!!! First we have to clean our own home

 

[AhsanAmin]

US Media has its agenda about various issues especially related to Pakistan and other Muslim countries. Not that they can completely give a new flavour to the news but sometimes they try their best to do that. US elite meaning the defence (or war machine), the media, and the political parties are usually together in their bias against Pakistan and other Muslim countries. And this all works in a circular fashion. Since the media is dictated by commercialism, they give the elite and the general public what they would like to read.

Do you believe how US war machine and the US elite hate the alternative media who has a much better record at speaking the truth and not touting vested interests? And sometimes their alternative media is heroically victimized by their war machine. So much so for their great talk about liberty and freedom of expression.

Larger Muslim countries gain special negative significance due to 'Clash of Civilizations' theory accepted by many of American elite. We might become likely targets for victimization in the future. US war machine has to find new targets to remain alive. To foil the war machine, we have to reassure US public though we have a different religion, we have no special negative motives regarding their nation. Unfortunately the war machine is far more successful in building a negative image for us than any positive outcome of our meager efforts for a better image.

Asking USA for any special importance is the worst thing to do. We should ask them for access to their markets just like they allow any third country. We should also welcome and protect them if they come for tourism. But we must not take aid since it comes with strings that go against our benefit and our foreign policy must be independent. We would like if our country's image is good in their population and vice versa but we do not want special friendship with USA and we do not want any special favors. Implications of special friendship with USA and consequences of special favors go beyond what we can see on the surface and this always results in damage to our country and is synonymous to shooting ourselves in the foot.

So yes we want good bilateral trade, we welcome your tourists, and we also want to sincerely protect your right interests about terrorism but we really do not want to be special friends with you. In international politics being a special friend of US in this area means being center of mechiavellian politics and a hub for creating problems for ourselves and others in the region. We must try for total peace and sovereignty of our country and we also must try for peace and mutual friendships in the region. We must not allow outside hands for dirty international politics in our region. So we want good relations with USA but we really do not want any special relations with USA at all. I simply cannot help pity my nation, when I see my country's ambassadors and ministers ask USA for special friendship, they are so out of touch with reality and still live in the world of twenty years ago.