Is Karan Johar Calling for Responsible Coverage Amidst Rising Tensions Between India and Pakistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Karan Johar advocates for responsible media coverage during military operations.
- Live reporting can compromise Armed Forces effectiveness.
- The Ministry of Defence stresses the importance of periodic briefings.
- Historical events underline the risks of premature reporting.
- Continued cross-border tensions necessitate caution in media coverage.
Mumbai, May 9 (NationPress) In light of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, renowned filmmaker Karan Johar has called on everyone to abstain from broadcasting any live coverage of military operations and the movement of security forces, which could compromise the effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
Sharing an advisory from the Ministry of Defence, the head of Dharma Productions posted on his Instagram stories, "All media outlets, digital platforms, and individuals are urged to avoid live coverage or real-time reporting of military actions and security forces' movements.
Referencing previous incidents such as the Kargil War, the 26/11 attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking, the advisory stated, "Revealing such sensitive or source-based information can undermine operational effectiveness and jeopardize lives. Historical events like the #KargilWar, 26/11 attacks, and the #Kandahar hijacking highlight the dangers of premature reporting."
The statement emphasized that only periodic briefings are allowed under the law, stating, "According to clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only periodic updates from authorized officials are permitted during anti-terror operations."
"All parties involved are encouraged to maintain vigilance, sensitivity, and responsibility in their coverage, upholding the highest standards in service to the nation," the advisory concluded.
The Ministry of Defence issued this advisory as the situation along the India-Pakistan border continues to worsen following the Indian Armed Forces' execution of 'Operation Sindoor' in the early hours of May 7.
During this operation, nine identified militant targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir were attacked in response to the Pahalgam terror assault that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians on April 22.
Additionally, the Indian air defense forces successfully intercepted at least eight missiles launched by Pakistan, reportedly aimed at critical border areas in Jammu.
Cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces continues along the Line of Control (LoC), with the Ministry of External Affairs reporting numerous civilian casualties and injuries due to ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC.