By Suresh Unnithan
The highly inflated reporting from a section of the Indian media during the Indo-Pak armed conflict has put a question mark on the credibility of current journalism. Foreign media and observers alike are amused at the “irresponsible and fabricated “stories aired by certain TV news channels to “heighten public pulses” and thereby improve their TRP.
It is agonizing, a section of the reporters have wilfully compromised all ethics to propitiate their masters, of course, at the cost of national interests. Sensational statements and narrations may enthuse the public and the masters for a while, but it could boomerang and prove counterproductive to the large cause and that is what happened the exaggerated reports aired during the now suspended Indo-Pak skirmish.
A veteran scribe who had reported Kargil conflict believes such unrealistic and imaginative reports have severe adverse effects: “inflated reports can escalate hostility. It can fuel public anger and mount pressure on the government to take aggressive stances, potentially escalating the conflict beyond diplomatic resolutions. Inaccurate or exaggerated news can spread false narratives about the conflict’s scale, casualties, or intentions, causing public panic, fear, and mistrust in institutions.”
He also felt “the so-called mainstream media is compromising all ethics of journalism to appease the party in power and the government. But its sycophantic reporting and outbursts have caused the nation dearly during the just stalled Indo-pak armed conflict. The over enthusiastic, exaggerated and inflated claims like Karachi conquered, Islamabad fallen, half of Pakistan captured, from certain visual channels, mockingly called Godi Media ( the media acting as PR arm of the government and ruling party) have provided a handle to our enemies to unleash PR attack on us. These TV channels/ media have been for a long time, since 2014, playing to the tune of those in power. They can be partisan or partial for their commercial benefits, but their acts need to stop short of harming the nation, particularly when we are into a warlike situation. The media should not provide any handle to our enemies by any chance. Otherwise their actions should be treated anti-national.”
There is a chance the overblown reporting could complicate diplomatic efforts by creating public expectations for military action, making de-escalation politically challenging for leaders. Pessimistic media narratives can destabilize markets, deter foreign investment, and upset trade activities, especially if the conflict is portrayed as more severe than it is.
Exaggerated reporting also erodes the media’s credibility, leading to public skepticism about legitimate news and weakening the press’s role as a reliable information source. There is a fair possibility the sensational reporting may provoke retaliatory actions or cyberattacks from adversarial groups, endangering journalists and media outlets.
According to a veteran Army personnel, “The role of the media during conflicts, especially between nuclear-armed neighbours like India and Pakistan, is critical in shaping public perception and influencing the trajectory of events.”
The spread of false reports by certain mainstream Indian media outlets—claiming that Indian forces had captured Lahore, were nearing Islamabad, or had attacked Karachi Port—during the 2025 Indo-Pak armed conflict highlights a significant failure of journalistic responsibility.There were exaggerated reports like the Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant attacking Karachi Port, with some reports bizarrely suggesting the ship had reached Lahore, a landlocked city. These claims were debunked, with videos traced to unrelated events, like a January 2025 plane crash in Philadelphia.
Another sensational and imaginary report was about Indian forces capturing Lahore and advancing toward Islamabad. A leading TV news channel even claimed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had surrendered. Another “national” TV news Channel came up with a breaking story on “an attack on Karachi Port”, which was debunked within hours but garnered thousands of shares. Such report were not just false, exaggerated and factually incorrect but also inflammatory.
The media has a fundamental duty to report accurately, especially during conflicts where misinformation can escalate tensions, incite panic, or provoke further violence. The irresponsible actions of certain Indian media outlets during the Indo-Pak conflict reflect a broader pattern of prioritizing sensationalism over factual reporting. Sensational headlines like “India’s final attack!” or claims of capturing major Pakistani cities could ignite nationalist fervor but distort reality and inflame tensions. Many veteran scribes are apprehensive of Indian media crossing the line from journalism to “jingoism,” with doctored videos and edited stock images used to depict destroyed “terror camps.” “Such reporting risks escalating a conflict by pressuring governments to act aggressively to match public expectations or by provoking retaliatory narratives in Pakistan, where media also face similar pressures.” False reports create panic and misinformation among civilians. For instance, claims of Pakistani attacks on Indian cities were cited as causing undue alarm, with air sirens in Chandigarh and evacuation orders in Jammu.
While the Indian government’s narrative of targeting “terrorist infrastructure” was central to Operation SINDOOR the media’s exaggeration of military successes without evidence suggests a deliberate or negligent departure from truth. The Indian media’s dissemination of false reports during this Indo-Pak conflict (claiming captures of Lahore, advances toward Islamabad, and attacks on Karachi Port) is irresponsible journalism that could bring disrepute to the nation and the media at large.
It’s high time the media houses refrain from spreading imaginative, exaggerated and inflammatory reports/stories. Media is expected to serves as a pillar of democracy, counters canards, and fosters social harmony in a diverse nation like India. Irresponsible journalism in the Indian context can have profound and far-reaching impacts, given the country’s diverse population and complex socio-political landscape, the media’s role in shaping public op
inion is immense, and unchecked sensationalism, misinformation, or biased reporting can aggravate divisions, erode trust, and destabilize the society.
The government alone cannot correct the media. Stakeholders—journalists, regulators, citizens, and tech platforms—must work together to ensure journalism remains a force for good, informing and uniting rather than dividing society. Responsible journalism means “Truth in Focus, Integrity in Every Story”.
