Discourse on Balakot air strike, number of terrorists neutralized

Amidst tense equation between India and Pakistan, there have been reports from Reuters and BBC which throw a counter-narrative to the Indian claims of bombing the JeM training camps in Balakot causing heavy losses and eliminating hundreds of terrorists.

Devdiscourse got the record of WhatsApp texts exchange between two media persons discussing the reporting by Reuters and BBC which reflects on the ongoing media frenzy. WhatsApp texts run as below. The identity of media persons not being revealed as requested by them.

Person 1: Sir, Reuters is again peddling its anti-India propaganda…The coverage of IAF air strikes has been replete with biased reporting

Person 2: What is truth...with some proof? We can publish

Person 1: I mean the reporting itself is proof. if you may have a look at some of its reports on Indian strikes in Balakot, it would be very clear. Is Reuters not aware of the fact that Pak has terrorist outfits operating on its soil?? Second thing... has it reported on how JeM flourished in Pakistan given that the organisation has claimed responsibility for Pulwama

Person 2: I saw BBC clip as well...reporting from the ground...same statements by villagers in Pakistan

Person 1: BBC also has a habit of doing anti-India reporting…It calls terrorists as gunmen

Person 2: Despite all bad about Pak and JeM, we need some proof to say that Reuters and BBC are wrong

Person 1: Alright let me check…but is there any international media which reports in favour of India??

Person 2: Even our own media platforms are not unbiased…

Person 1: That's correct…Al Jazeera, BBC, and Reuters all are infamous for Anti-India propaganda…but we can call out Pak's lies…why it didn't take journalists to the spot?? It cited bad weather as the reason…and when we shot their F-16, it didn't mention the aircraft at all…I mean the debris of the craft are itself the proof of Pak's rant…why does Reuters not bother to report on this?

Person 2: We can't dictate Reuters how should they report...however, the narrative which you are proposing is also biased...it seems politically biased and may not be pro-nation...citizens of this country deserve to know the truth and not cooked narratives…

Person 1: Hahaha…alright, sir… (Politically biased) …citizens must be aware of everything, but should we ask the army every time to record its actions?

Person 2: Yes, politically biased…the media which takes time to report on within-country accidental casualties say due to any train accident, suddenly jumps to tell that 300+ terrorists died is all unverified and baseless reporting. It is sure that our brave air fighters bombed some key targets but how can media instantly tell 300+ terrorists died?

Person 1: They all cited sources…sutro ke hawale se

Person 2: What sources?

Person 1: MEA sources…or the highly placed sources in the Army

Person 2: All ambiguous

Person 1: What do you want the government to do at this stage? The media even came up with the names of Azhar's relatives who were neutralised…what more one can expect now? Though I don't vouch for the numbers, I'm sure that a good number of terrorists have been eliminated.

Person 2: What the government can do?...do the surgical strike and kill Azhar Masood in Pakistan itself as the US killed Laden.

Person 1: Heard Jaitley?

Person 2: Bolane se kuchch nahin hota…

Person 1: Sir, you are aware that it's not that easy. The US took help from Paki intelligence to eliminate Laden. On the other hand, India has everything on its own to do

Person 2: It is all about diplomacy and resourcefulness

Person 1: We have been diplomatic enough sir. Which country stood for Pak?

Person 2: Azhar Masood is not indispensable for Pakistan...there are views floating in Pakistan also pointing out why Pak don't need him…Our country needs to leverage upon this one as well diplomatically

Person 1: Doing it

Person 2: Then why we are so touchy about the figure of 300+…perhaps because it serves the pro-ruling party narrative to win 2019 elections

Person 1: I've also been frequently browsing Pak channels. They denied surgical strikes. DG ISPR even denied that F-16s were used? Whom to trust??

Person 2: Instead of being judgemental... the media needs to question and report whatever is the truth

Person 1: Media is doing that, but it can't take the narrative of Pakistan

Person 2: Then question the narrative of Pakistan but logically…journalism is not defending false narratives and counter-narratives

Person 1: Sure. and Pakistan's nature of harbouring terrorism is being cornered

Person 2: Whatever is truth should prevail…

Person 1: India can't take it anymore…

Person 2: India should not...am wondering how come 200 kg RDX was allowed to be assembled and attack on our brave CRPF men was allowed

Person 1: Involvement of locals

Person 2: Why locals are involved...a very serious and key question?

Person 1: Crackdown on them has brought this

Person 2: Why the situation of going for crackdown arises?

Person 1: Why not...a safe Kashmir is always welcome…those who turn jihadis must be brought to the mainstream…dialogue process has been hijacked by separatists…army is being pelted stones upon

Person 2: Why they turn jihadis? Few separatists vs the whole of India...and they hijack the dialogue process...why and how? The answer to these questions may be the solution of Kashmir problem

Person 1: Just because they are separatists. Is not the coinage of their name enough? Second thing, they've been assisted by Pakistan. Is not Kashmir becoming a workshop of Pak-sponsored covert fight for 'freedom'?...And if there's any solution to it, Please enlighten me as well

Person 2: All your arguments point out how weak we are managing things at home...apanaa gam le ke kahin aur na jaya jaaye...ghar mein bikhari hui cheejo to sajaayaa jaaye

Person 1: Sir, creative disruption badaa famous term hai aajkal…thoda gaur farmaiye

Person 2: Sure