The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), has sharply criticised the coverage of “Operation Sindoor” by several Indian television news channels, calling their actions reckless, sensational, and damaging to the credibility of Indian journalism.
In a strongly worded statement, NWMI condemned how media outlets handled the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 tourists dead. The operation, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the attack, triggered heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Instead of providing verified and responsible reporting, NWMI alleged, many news channels spread sensationalism, falsehoods, and unverified information.
“The Network of Women in Media, India, unequivocally condemns the reckless and unprofessional conduct of numerous Indian television news channels and high-profile journalists in their coverage of ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched on 7 May 2025 in the aftermath of the tragic killing of 26 tourists at Pahalgam in Kashmir on 22 April, and the India-Pakistan border tensions that followed.”
NWMI outlined several major concerns in its statement, noting that some broadcasters aired outdated, mislabeled, or AI-generated videos and presented them as real-time evidence of Operation Sindoor’s outcomes. These misleading visuals, the Network pointed out, were publicly debunked by fact-checkers, including the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit and independent journalists like Alt News’ Mohammad Zubair.
The group also highlighted the overuse of sensationalist elements, including graphics mimicking video games, studio sirens, and dramatic claims, which shifted focus from factual reporting to theatrical spectacle. Prime-time debates turned into jingoistic displays, and anchors irresponsibly declared victories—such as a false claim about an Indian "invasion" of Karachi—without any verification.
NWMI cited one particularly troubling case: both Zee News and News18 incorrectly reported the death of a 47-year-old man from Poonch, Qari Mohammad Iqbal, identifying him as a Pakistani terrorist. The man was in fact an Indian citizen, and his family reportedly learned of his death through these misleading reports. Neither channel has retracted the report or issued an apology.
The organisation also raised the alarm over the propagation of unverified casualty numbers and claims about Pakistani fighter jets being downed—stories that were later proven to be based on deepfakes or fake news. Notably, these claims continued to circulate even after official government clarifications and independent fact-checks discredited them.
NWMI warned that this kind of irresponsible journalism not only spreads panic and misinformation but also undermines the role of the media, weakens public trust, and threatens peace efforts—such as the ceasefire agreement brokered between India and Pakistan on May 11, 2025.
“Such irresponsible coverage has undermined the work and credibility of journalism, spread misinformation, created mass panic and encouraged jingoism among viewers, and jeopardised the ceasefire brokered on May 11, 2025, between India and Pakistan.”
In its concluding remarks, NWMI called on media houses and regulatory bodies to take immediate action.
Their demands include public corrections and apologies for false reports, strict internal verification protocols, and penalties for repeated breaches of journalistic ethics. "Issue Public Corrections and Apologies: Rescind or correct all unfounded reports on Operation Sindoor and related events. Enforce Rigorous Verification Protocols: Establish mandatory in-house fact-checking departments empowered to halt broadcasts pending verification. Sanction Non-Compliant Entities: Media self-regulatory bodies must impose meaningful penalties on outlets and individuals who repeatedly flout journalistic standards and ethics."