Front Page
The India-Pakistan “faceoff” (The Indian Express) saw newspapers focus on Wednesday’s aerial dogfight and the implications of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot in Pakistan’s captivity: “Jets downed, tensions up,” writes Hindustan Times.
The Times of India also feels the “Tensions in the air.” But Express gets most perspective, with “Day after, sleepless night.”’ For colorful, TV type headlines, turn to the Hindi dailies “Rashtra Ko Abhinandan Chahie”(Country wants Abhinandan back), writes Dainik Bhaskar.
Express reports that the day which began with the IAF’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman being held in captivity by the Pakistani Army “ended with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being briefed by chiefs of the three armed forces.”
In “Pakistan takes Indian fighter pilot prisoner,” The Telegraph writes, “As the complexion of the cross-border tension changed and war clouds began to take shape on the horizon, an alarmed international community called for de-escalation.”
Newspapers agree that the biggest point of tension is Varthaman’s abduction. In its ‘Explained’ box, Express writes that India and Pakistan have an “understanding” whereby “Both Delhi and Islamabad agree that it (his return) should be within a ‘reasonable’ period.”
The reports on the battle in the skies that saw a Pakistani F-16 brought down along with India’s MIG-21 are based on Indian government’s accounts but still vary in details. The Economic Times perhaps has the most comprehensive sourced story from “those familiar with the details’” (“All Unquiet on Northern Front”).
Pak PM calls for talks
Imran Khan’s pitch for talks is front page news. Unusual for any newspaper, The Telegraph makes a transcript of his speech its standalone lead. HT observes that “Khan mixed the tough talk with a renewed attempt at reconciliation.”
TOI takes the government line: “Unmoved by Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s overture for talks which he couched with the risk of nuclear escalation, India said Wednesday’s aerial battle along the LoC was an act of aggression, raising the prospects of a flareup,” it writes.
Opposition talks tough
PM Narendra Modi remains largely absent across front pages, but the opposition shows up after 21 parties met Wednesday. Most newspapers are careful to mention what HT reports: “Most opposition parties on Wednesday expressed “deep concern over the safety of the missing Indian pilot”… but also expressed “deep anguish” over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s “blatant politicisation” of sacrifices of the forces.” In fact, that is the Hindu headline: “Blatant politicisation, says Opposition”.
Tribal eviction
With western front hostilities so dominant other domestic news is almost ignored. However, “Stay eviction of forest dwellers, govt asks SC” makes it to TOI’s front page flap and is reported in all newspapers. The report says the Centre filed a review petition on the court’s orders demanding eviction of those tribals and forest dwellers whose applications under FRA stood rejected.
HT gives it column space, and says that the court’s orders were directed at those “who have encroached on forest land.” Interestingly, this story had received extensive coverage in the foreign press including The Telegraph and Guardian.
Opinion
Most newspapers’ comments call for “restraint” in the stand-off with Pakistan.
Express in “Day After” asks Pakistan to adhere to the Geneva Convention on POWs, treat Varthaman “in a humane manner” and return him “safely”. His capture, however, “casts a wider responsibility” — it is a reminder that in conflict, the “terrible human toll” is always a price “too high to pay”. For the second day, it calls for “sobriety” and “restraint” by politicians, media and civil society while condemning the TV “studio warriors” for “immature war-mongering.”
The Economic Times in “Let Pak Pantomime Not Turn Cool Heads” also advises India to “choose restraint.” ET feels India’s strategic objectives to “destroy the camp”, “send a clear message” to Pakistan and the world on India’s willingness to combat “terrorism” and to end Pakistan’s “nuclear blackmail” have been met. Allow Pakistan its “pantomime” of attacking India, it says. India needs to do “little more” — “enough has been done to secure India’s interests for now,” it concludes.
HT asks “Is it time for diplomacy?” It says PM Modi has “laid out new red lines,” and executed “a successful mission.” Pakistan’s “symbolic response” Wednesday is for its “domestic constituency.” “Now both (sides) need to think about the escalatory ladder.” It enunciates several steps Pakistan can take, including returning Varthaman, and adds: “there is a narrow window… to de-escalate. It is time to grab it.”
TOI in “More Hard Options,” urges “the entire political calls to come together…The government too must be restrained…” With elections due in India, Pakistan “hopes to take advantage of ‘India’s fractious polity.’” It advises, “diplomatic hard options” — like getting the International Cricket Council to “expel Pakistan from the World Cup.”
Prime Time
Indian media spits fire after Wednesday brought news of air battles across the LoC.
Most of the day, Indian news channels were euphoric and jingoistic about the fallen F-16. CNN News18, alone, raised alarm bells about an IAF pilot, or pilots, in Pakistani custody–“Pak attack foiled” (News X). “India has taught them a lesson” (Republic).
Even after the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson confirmed the loss of an Indian jet and a pilot “missing’’,” the narrative didn’t change much on channels like Times Now or RepublicTV that continued tom-tomming “#IndiaStrikesBack.”
The Pakistan PM’s call for talks between the two countries and the 21 opposition parties’ meeting on the conflict received short shrift.
RepublicTV’s Arnab Goswami, however, did target Congress president Rahul Gandhi for politicising the issue.
Goswami appeared very angry, again. He lauded the fact that a MIG-21 aircraft, which was comparatively older than Pakistani F-16, had still been able to shoot down the latter.
He then turned to developments along the LoC — most of his panelists advised India to hit Pakistan even “harder.”
Retired Major General Bishamber Dayal said, “Pakistan has been sponsoring the war in J&K, it has been waging a war. For the first time, we have taken the war to their territory — it’s time to strike them harder.”
The JD (U), a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally of the BJP, was all for war, too. Its spokesperson Ajay Alok commented, “What is the problem if we want to strike Pakistan harder? They should not have the courage to attack India.”
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi believed that India will remain unscathed even if a war takes place. He said, “We are the fastest growing economy, how will any untoward thing happen to us?”
India Today anchor Rahul Kanwal pointed to the Pakistani “lie” that two IAF jets had been shot down when only MIG-21 was brought down. He also claimed that Pakistan was making false factual claims as part of their psychological warfare.
Retd. Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia said, “Pakistan is known for carrying out fake information, they are known for deceit so I am not surprised.”
On Times Now, Retd. Air Marshal M. Matheswaran, in conversation with Padmaja Joshi said, “India has now stepped up its zero tolerance for terrorism to send a message to Pakistan.”
Former diplomat Veena Sikri added a word of caution: “I think we have to continue our efforts with the international community.”
Zee News Hindi anchor Sudhir Chaudhary took up Imran Khan’s call for talks in his editorial monologue. Chaudhury studied Pakistan’s PM carefully and then observed: “The body language of Pakistan PM Imran Khan clearly shows that if a war starts Pakistan will be destroyed.”
“There is no sense in what Imran Khan has to say,” he added.
Tweets of the day
As the day comes to an end, my thoughts are with Wing Commander Abhinandan. Some of us root for peace, others want war at all costs. But tonight we should spare a thought for this brave man & the pain his family is in. Hope media respects their privacy and shows some sensitivity.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 27, 2019
Republic TV seems to be the only reliable Indian media