By Sheikh Nissar
Seven decades after their acrimonious split, instead of presenting a coherent policy, India and Pakistan remain at daggers drawn. Like a compass needle that always point north, India’s accusing finger finds Pakistan and Pakistan’s find India. Since partition, both the nations have been psychologically obsessed with their assorted mutual conflicts. The hate campaigns run on both sides, completely controlled by an idea, cannot be reasoned with. Theatrics thrived, with toy-gun totting warrior anchors in army costumes drumming up an atmosphere of hate and violent jingoism.
In the clash of narratives between the two (India & Pakistan), the truth has become causality—the real issues are forbidden. Though the media is facing credibility crisis, yet people are acclimatized to watch the distorted and fabricated content to nourish their hatred. The hissing cousins are adapting, albeit slowly, without observing the information may be jest or lie. The media has been evolved as a fit vehicle for promoting hate and envy, thus refraining from proposed responsibilities. Earlier, manipulative fake news were linked to an event of Muslim group for spreading coronavirus in India while overlooking other similar religious gatherings. The main stream media repeatedly articulated false news which created sense of hatred against Muslim community, leading to their social boycott at many places. This signifies, it is a well engineered conspiracy, mainly politics driven by those who want a certain idea to prevail.
As world is battling with coronovirus pandemic and are striving to produce an antidote to contain the virus, the worst locust swarm is threatening to destroy the vital crops of India. Millimeters in size but millions in number, the desert locusts crossed into India from Pakistan had engaged media houses in another debate. Though foreign media is praising the joint work of India and Pakistan to combat locust invasion but Indo-Pak media is fanning the embers of bitterness. Earlier on 5 June, al-Jazeera published news that read:
“The two countries—also bitter regional rivals—have been coordinating through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on controlling the locust activity, sharing data and attending weekly meetings.”
Scientist at the Locust Warning Organization (LWO), in the mid of the April observed a different group of migratory grasshoppers in Jaisalmer and Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan. These were the same destructive migratory pests currently devouring acres of maize, wheat and sorghum crops in East Africa. As per reports, the locusts entered India were 10-12 days older, flying huge distances and were ready to lay eggs after the onset of monsoon and will stay for more than two months—90 day life cycle. They multiply very fast. Also, these locusts are polyphagous i.e. they can feed on multiple varieties. Ability to breed fast and polyphagous food habit make them more destructive. Drones to disc jockeys were deployed to spray pesticides and contain locust invasion.
Pakistani media is also at forefront to spread fake news. Earlier, in the month of May, the fake tweets attributed to Suhail Shaheen and Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah were doing rounds of social media, saying ‘friendship between Islamic Emirate and India is impossible’ and ‘Islamic Emirate will capture Kashmir from infidels’. Later, Taliban clarified that Kashmir is India’s internal matter and the policy of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is ‘not to interfere in domestic matters of neighbors.’ The foremost articulator of this fake news was Pakistani media.
Debunking the false narrative of Indian media that the locusts are trained infiltrators from Pakistan to destroy the crops of India is totally a vague argument and part of hate speeches to incite people. Indian media should listen “panchhi nadiya pawan ke jhonke, koi sarhad na inhe roke” in news studios instead of linking locust invasion with terrorism. Similarly, Pakistani media should also leave infantile gesture. Instead, both should work to evacuate hatred from the hearts of people and reach out and listen to the demands of people, especially Kashmiris.
We know fake news fan tension between India and Pakistan. Then, why Indo-Pak media is comfortable with fake news? Have people become accustomed to fake news? The government had created an atmosphere in which journalists are afraid of publishing news in its credible form. The disinformation spread has an organized character. The propaganda units are affiliated with political parties who consult multiple sources—primary or secondary—to reach out people and in order to influence them with their political narratives they show them distorted figures and facts. Often, these propagandists slowly and gradually succeed in convincing people towards an idea. In Indian circumstances, it is easy to polarize a Hindu and plot him against a Muslim. Secondly, people are accustomed to false news. This is the dark era for media in which media content is decided in news rooms in consultation with the ruling party. Unfortunately, media houses have become potent sorcerers that made our reckless hearts drowsy.
Sheikh Nissar can be reached at sheikhnissar@Outlook.com
