ISLAMABAD, JUN 20 /DNA/ – At a discussion jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), and the Policy East (PE), on ‘The Pursuit of Truth: Competing Narratives in post-Pahalgam’, Amb Masood Khalid, stated that the recent exchange of strikes between Pakistan and India has renewed international attention on longstanding regional disputes. He emphasized that Pakistan should capitalize on this renewed interest, especially from the US, to resolve the Kashmir dispute. He also acknowledged the media’s role, stating that Pakistan’s strategic communication had effectively dismantled India’s narrative and exposed its weaknesses.
In his opening remarks, IRS President Amb Jauhar Saleem highlighted Pakistan’s effective and principled diplomatic response, which countered misleading narratives and exposed India’s domestic political motivations for escalating the crisis. On narrative building, he underscored the importance of a comprehensive strategy, adding that, the narrative should not be constructed in isolation, but rather through a holistic approach, incorporating diverse perspectives and insights, drawing from strategic considerations, and societal input. He argued that by embracing this comprehensive approach, the resulting narrative would be more impactful.
Air Marshal (Retd) Javaid Ahmed, President Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), presented a technical assessment of the conflict’s operational aspects. He cautioned against normalizing the crisis and emphasized the need to maintain and consistently follow through with the narrative. Rear Admiral (Retd) Faisal Shah highlighted India’s operational miscalculations and commended Pakistan’s strong response, which upheld strategic redlines: no internal interference, prevention of repeat incidents, and adherence to existing agreements.
Dr. Taimur Shamil, Executive Director Policy East, highlighted the increasingly transnational nature of information conflicts and the imperative for Pakistani institutions to develop robust international partnerships with other global institutions. Journalists Umar Khalid Butt (PTV) and Haitham Naser (TRT) offered firsthand insights on narrative development and dissemination. Their critique of current institutions and advocacy for better media think-tank collaboration generated lively debate among the professors, analysts, and policy researchers present during the Q&A.
The event drew a large audience of diplomats, military leaders, journalists, policy experts, researchers, and students from various universities.
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