Pakistani media call for Delhi-Islamabad de-escalation

Pakistani media gave a wall-to-wall coverage to situation after shooting down of Indian aircraft on Thursday, terming it a “surprise response” to New Delhi, but simultaneously called for immediate steps to quell the escalating tensions.

Dawn, the country’s leading English daily in its front page used headline "Two Indian fighters jets downed, pilot captured", together with a picture of the Indian pilot.

But in its editorial “Aiming for Peace”, Dawn wrote: “What should happen in crystal clear: India and Pakistan should immediately cease hostilities: the international community should intervene immediately diplomatically: and at all costs, war between India and Pakistan must be avoided.”

Khurram Hussain, who often pens columns on economy and politics, snubbed some TV anchors and analysts engaged in war-mongering.

In his column published in Dawn, he wrote: “There are few sights in the world that make one more nauseous than TV anchors hooting for war, hashtag warriors on social media or chicken hawks who never fired even a single fire in their lives”.

Business Recorder, the country’s largest business daily, gave front page coverage to the shooting down but also highlighted equally big headline on page 2 “ Int’l community urges arch rivals to show restraint”.

The Express Tribune, another English daily, published a headline "’Surprise reprisal" highlighting Islamabad’s message to demonstrate “our right, will and capability for self-defense”.

In its editorial -- titled “Pakistan’s peace Stance” -- the daily said: “It has been heartening to see the political leadership and the media in Pakistan almost unanimous in their support for de-escalation.”

- 'War is simply not an option'

The News International published its headline "Pakistan stuns India, downs two IAF jets", but in its editorial -- titled “Need for Dialogue” -- said: “There are hopes that the skies over Pakistan and India will assume a calmer shade of blue as talk of de-escalation comes in from Pakistan, whose leaders have shown more awareness that war is simply not an option between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.”

Jang, the country’s largest Urdu daily, published an eight-column headline highlighting prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that the two nuclear-armed rivals cannot afford a war.

The paper also gave sizable coverage to the meeting of National Command Authority -- the supreme body that holds control of the country’s nuclear weapons.

Express, another largely circulated Urdu daily, also published an eight-column headline of the shooting down terming Pakistan’s response as a “surprise”.

Similarly, local broadcaster Geo News, in its minute-to-minute coverage of the events after shooting down of Indian jets, gave sizable airtime to analysts and politicians who called for de-escalation.

Other TV channels -- including ARY News, Samaa, Express News, 92 News, 24 News and GNN -- also gave back-to-back coverage to the developments throughout the day.

The official media also ran the story as breaking news with big headlines.

"Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace," Pakistan Television said in its bulletins.