Following Pakistan’s shooting down of a drone in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, or Azad Kashmir as Islamabad calls it, on Wednesday, its newspapers seemed more exercised about a standoff between the military and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement than about the increased tension on its border with India. The standoff dominated headlines in most papers.
Pakistan had shot down a drone near Bhimber, escalating already brewing tension on the border. The drone hit followed days of firing across the Line of Control, the de facto border, in which both sides suffered casualties, and set off mutual recriminations between the Indian and Pakistani establishments.
Pakistani newspapers also largely followed the official line that India had started the hostilities with unprovoked firing across the border. Most carried reports of five civilians being killed in border villages in Sialkot district in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Pakistan claimed India had sent in the drone, but in Delhi, foreign secretary S Jaishankar denied this and said that the drone was not an Indian design, but looked like a Chinese design for commercial use available off the shelf.
Pakistani papers did not uniformly follow their government line. While The National took for granted that the drone was India, other publications fairly noted India’s denial.
Following the incursion of the drone, Pakistan’s foreign office summoned the Indian envoy, TCA Raghavan, and read him the riot act about airspace and ceasefire violations, according to reports. At the same time, both sides reiterated their commitment to peace and stability. They regretted that the recent incidents might stall progress achieved at the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, in Ufa.
Some reactions from Pakistani newspapers:
Dawn
‘FO summons Indian diplomat, lodges protest’
The report notes that the foreign office had registered a strong protest “for the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian BSF at Phuklian-Akhnor sector early morning on July 15, which continued until sunset.”
It repeats the foreign office’s statement that Pakistani troops had acted with restraint and that the country was anxious to preserve the spirit of the Ufa declaration, which had achieved “a reduction in tensions and creation of environment for meaningful dialogue”.
The Nation
‘An Uneasy Friendship’
An editorial says, “Whether India cares to admit it or not, Kashmir is the main point of contention, where despite a UN-monitored de facto separation between the two countries, both claim the territory in its entirety.” The editorial takes note of India’s silence on Kashmir and its alleged activities in Balochistan, which are in sharp contrast to its clamour for terror investigations. It recommends that Nawaz Sharif take note of the opposition’s criticism that talks with India are “one-sided appeasement” on Pakistan’s part. It ends by bitterly denouncing the Ufa meeting as a mere “smokescreen” behind which Indian aggression continues.
The Express Tribune
‘Clear message: Indian ‘spy drone’ shot down in AJK’
This cautious report quotes military officials who say that shooting down the alleged spy drone sent out “a clear message”. However, it also cites “industry experts” who say the drone was a “small, unarmed model”. It was “sold commercially for aerial filming” and was not likely to yield military secrets. The report also seems to support Jaishankar’s claim that the drone had been a Chinese make. It also recalls the Pakistani “spy pigeon” captured by the Indian police last month, noting that the bird bore a “stamped message” in Urdu and, reportedly, a Pakistani phone number.
The News International
‘Five killed in Indian firing on LoC-WB’
This report gives details of those killed in “Indian BSF firing” at the Phuklian-Akhnor sector and the Nezapir sector. Casualties include Ghulam Mustafa, 45, and Zareena, 18.
It also takes note of Indian helicopter manoeuvres on July 11. The Pakistan foreign secretary was cited as saying that the manoeuvres spoke of an “offensive and threatening posture”.
Readers’ response
There was a range of responses, mirroring those on the Indian side.
Scepticism: “Actually, renowned media companies like TOI, BBC say that Pakistan started the attacks, they killed Indian civilians first, while the Indians killed ours in reply. They have also sent a warning for us. Just don’t know why the Pakistani media never tells the truth?”
Jingoism: “Funny, we are catching actual spies and India is busy with pigeons, planets, boats, and camels as suspects. Good going. Drone seems like a cheap one and wouldn’t hurt them as a devastating loss but the message is very devastating. We did warm them earlier, Pakistan is NOT Myanmar, seems like they didn’t catch a drift.”
Frustration: “This is not a new phenomenon. It is a daily routine. We hear persons killed on both sides of the LOC divide. We read the statements of the spokespersons from both counties. Nothing concrete takes place because of inaction and weak diplomacy of Pakistan.
At least the military establishment should take appropriate action. A statement by ISPR 's spokesperson is never enough. What about the victims. Where are the human rights watchmen? And what are they doing? What is the UN's peace-keeping force doing on the LOC? We need some answers.”
Resignation: “We just wasted thousands of dollars worth of munition to take out some cheap toy bought online.”
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Pakistan had shot down a drone near Bhimber, escalating already brewing tension on the border. The drone hit followed days of firing across the Line of Control, the de facto border, in which both sides suffered casualties, and set off mutual recriminations between the Indian and Pakistani establishments.
Pakistani newspapers also largely followed the official line that India had started the hostilities with unprovoked firing across the border. Most carried reports of five civilians being killed in border villages in Sialkot district in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Pakistan claimed India had sent in the drone, but in Delhi, foreign secretary S Jaishankar denied this and said that the drone was not an Indian design, but looked like a Chinese design for commercial use available off the shelf.
Pakistani papers did not uniformly follow their government line. While The National took for granted that the drone was India, other publications fairly noted India’s denial.
Following the incursion of the drone, Pakistan’s foreign office summoned the Indian envoy, TCA Raghavan, and read him the riot act about airspace and ceasefire violations, according to reports. At the same time, both sides reiterated their commitment to peace and stability. They regretted that the recent incidents might stall progress achieved at the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, in Ufa.
Some reactions from Pakistani newspapers:
Dawn
‘FO summons Indian diplomat, lodges protest’
The report notes that the foreign office had registered a strong protest “for the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian BSF at Phuklian-Akhnor sector early morning on July 15, which continued until sunset.”
It repeats the foreign office’s statement that Pakistani troops had acted with restraint and that the country was anxious to preserve the spirit of the Ufa declaration, which had achieved “a reduction in tensions and creation of environment for meaningful dialogue”.
The Nation
‘An Uneasy Friendship’
An editorial says, “Whether India cares to admit it or not, Kashmir is the main point of contention, where despite a UN-monitored de facto separation between the two countries, both claim the territory in its entirety.” The editorial takes note of India’s silence on Kashmir and its alleged activities in Balochistan, which are in sharp contrast to its clamour for terror investigations. It recommends that Nawaz Sharif take note of the opposition’s criticism that talks with India are “one-sided appeasement” on Pakistan’s part. It ends by bitterly denouncing the Ufa meeting as a mere “smokescreen” behind which Indian aggression continues.
The Express Tribune
‘Clear message: Indian ‘spy drone’ shot down in AJK’
This cautious report quotes military officials who say that shooting down the alleged spy drone sent out “a clear message”. However, it also cites “industry experts” who say the drone was a “small, unarmed model”. It was “sold commercially for aerial filming” and was not likely to yield military secrets. The report also seems to support Jaishankar’s claim that the drone had been a Chinese make. It also recalls the Pakistani “spy pigeon” captured by the Indian police last month, noting that the bird bore a “stamped message” in Urdu and, reportedly, a Pakistani phone number.
The News International
‘Five killed in Indian firing on LoC-WB’
This report gives details of those killed in “Indian BSF firing” at the Phuklian-Akhnor sector and the Nezapir sector. Casualties include Ghulam Mustafa, 45, and Zareena, 18.
It also takes note of Indian helicopter manoeuvres on July 11. The Pakistan foreign secretary was cited as saying that the manoeuvres spoke of an “offensive and threatening posture”.
Readers’ response
There was a range of responses, mirroring those on the Indian side.
Scepticism: “Actually, renowned media companies like TOI, BBC say that Pakistan started the attacks, they killed Indian civilians first, while the Indians killed ours in reply. They have also sent a warning for us. Just don’t know why the Pakistani media never tells the truth?”
Jingoism: “Funny, we are catching actual spies and India is busy with pigeons, planets, boats, and camels as suspects. Good going. Drone seems like a cheap one and wouldn’t hurt them as a devastating loss but the message is very devastating. We did warm them earlier, Pakistan is NOT Myanmar, seems like they didn’t catch a drift.”
Frustration: “This is not a new phenomenon. It is a daily routine. We hear persons killed on both sides of the LOC divide. We read the statements of the spokespersons from both counties. Nothing concrete takes place because of inaction and weak diplomacy of Pakistan.
At least the military establishment should take appropriate action. A statement by ISPR 's spokesperson is never enough. What about the victims. Where are the human rights watchmen? And what are they doing? What is the UN's peace-keeping force doing on the LOC? We need some answers.”
Resignation: “We just wasted thousands of dollars worth of munition to take out some cheap toy bought online.”