Indian Media Misguides Readers

The Indian media through most of last week was buzzing with reports that President Obama’s proposed Budget has increased military aid to Pakistan. The Economic Times reported on “Huge increases in US military aid to Pakistan”; The Hindu carried an article under the heading “U.S. to increase military aid to Pakistan and Afghanistan”; NDTV ran a commentary on “Obama proposes more military aid to Pakistan”;  The Hindustan Times declared “Obama proposes more military aid to Pakistan.”

This news piece emerges from distortion of facts and leads to misinterpretation of President Obama’s policy in South Asia. If you Google the words ‘Obama, Budget, Pakistan, Funding’, in the search results no news agency barring the Indian media carries such assertions. If you get an opportunity to read President Obama’s proposed Budget, you will not find any references to ‘enhanced military aid to Pakistan’.  The Budget proposes two complimentary strategies in South Asia, which have been be interpreted by the fancies of the Indian media to provide misleading information. Firstly, the Obama Administration proposes to increase non-military funding to Pakistan. In meeting the U.S. challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the President proposes to increase funding for governance, reconstruction, counter-narcotics and other development activities. Under the proposed scheme the number of U.S. civilian personnel in two countries would be increased. Secondly the Budget includes $75.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for 2009 and $ 130 billion for 2010 to support ongoing overseas contingency operations, including efforts in Afghanistan and drawing down troops from Iraq responsibly. Since Pakistan has been recognized as vital for ensuring regional security, it can be assumed that a portion of the supplemental appropriations could be provided for Pakistan; but this is an assumption and not a stated policy of the U.S.

India’s political class has for long viewed global politics through the prism of Pakistan, it’s sad that the media has compromised responsible journalism for assuming the mantel of Pakistan bashing. Pakistan has enough failings of its own, imaginary additions are simply unnecessary.