While the Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for “provocative content” and “misinformation” following the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian television news has been doing what it does best: rolling out the red carpet for such content, in studio lighting, with a splash of nationalistic graphics.
A few Indian channels have continued to allow Pakistani panellists a platform to air their inane, and sometimes inappropriate, remarks.
For example, on Poochta Hai Bharat, hosted by Aishwarya Kapoor on Republic Bharat, Pakistan strategic affairs expert Hamid Khan said, “The NYT ne kaha ki yeh saara Pahalgam drama hai aur Modi ne apne nakamiyon ko chupane ke liye yeh kiya hai. Aapke MPs, press, aue log pooch rahe hai ki Modi ne yeh drama kyun kiya. Jo aap Kashmiryon ke saath kar rahe hai, puri duniya apko Kashmiriyon ke genocide pe mujrim karar de rahi hai? (The NYT has written that Pahalgam was orchestrated by PM Narendra Modi to hide his failures. Your MPs, press, and citizens are asking why Modi had to do this drama. The whole world is terming India a criminal due to the genocide of Kashmiris.) ”
No piece by the New York Times has made such claims.
Before he was muted, Khan also said, “Aapki patloon gili ho jayegi…(You will piss in your pants)”
On the same show, Pakistani politician Abdul Samad Yaqoob said, “Yes, we cannot use the F-16s to attack any country, but if India attacks, we are bound to use them. We don't have them to use in a circus.”
Meanwhile, on Navika Kumar’s Sawal Public Ka on Times Now Navbharat, Pakistani journalist Nusrat Ameen pointed out that the debate needs to be civil. Referring to the comments of another panellist, Major Gaurav Arya (retd), Ameen said, “He said that these people [Pakistanis] are Lahori. I haven’t heard a bigger racist remark even on Pakistan television.”
Arya doubled down. “Apke wazir-e-alam kehete hai ki lakdiya kamm pad jayengi. Aap dafa hojaiye yahan se. Zaleel kisam ke aadmi. Do kaudi ke lahori Pakistani Punjabi. Cheen ke bheek par palne wale. Tumhe sharam nahi aati? Sar katke layenge Asim Munir ka (Your Prime Minister says that there won’t be enough wood [to cremate people]. Get lost from here. Shameless man. Cheap Lahori Pakistani Punjabi. Surviving on alms from China. Are you not ashamed? We will bring the severed head of Asim Munir [chief of Pakistan Army]).”
Aseem left the show, and the focus then shifted to another panelist, Pakistani politician Muhammad Zubair Umar, who said, “India acts like an immature child. It first threatens. Use lagta hai ki Pakistan ke haat pair kaanp jayenge. Par aisa kuch nahi hai. (It thinks Pakistan will get scared, but that’s not the case.)”
Meanwhile, on her debate show Goonj on News18 India, Rubika Liyaquat didn’t allow one of her panelists, PML leader Dr Irshad Ahmed Khan, to speak, drowning out his voice with her nationalist tirade.
“Koi aadmi rehena nahi chahta hai aapke saath. Koi mulq aapke saath kade rehena nahi chahta hai. Aap woh desh hai jo duniya ke maap pe nasoor bannke rehegaya. Bann kijiye iss adhmi ki aawaz (No person wants to stay with you. No country wants to stand with you. You are that country which will remain a thorn on the world's map. Silence this man’s voice),” Liyaquat said.
For the rest of the show, Dr Khan’s voice was either inaudible or he was berated by Liyaquat and the other panelists.
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