Research Article
International Media Narratives on the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack and Emerging India-Pakistan Tensions: A Discourse Analysis
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
1-14
Received:
12 January 2026
Accepted:
21 January 2026
Published:
20 February 2026
Abstract: This paper examines how international media outlets reported the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir and how these narratives shaped emerging India–Pakistan tensions. The primary objective of the study is to analyze variations in language use, attribution of responsibility, and geopolitical framing across global media coverage, and to assess their implications for international perceptions of terrorism and regional security in South Asia. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative discourse analysis informed by Framing Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis. The analysis focuses on news reports, editorials, and explanatory articles published by six major international media organizations-BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, CNN, and Xinhua. These outlets were selected based on their global reach, agenda-setting influence, and geopolitical diversity. The dataset comprises articles published between April and June 2025, capturing both immediate reporting on the attack and subsequent coverage of diplomatic and military developments, including India’s Operation Sindoor. The findings identify five dominant discursive patterns across international media narratives: (i) terrorism framed as a regional security threat, (ii) the recurring India–Pakistan blame game, (iii) Kashmir portrayed as a persistent conflict zone, (iv) the articulation of India’s nationalist security discourse, and (v) Pakistan’s diplomatic positioning and denial narrative. Western media outlets largely adopted neutral terminology such as “militants,” emphasizing diplomatic fallout and de-escalation, while other outlets foregrounded political, humanitarian, and strategic dimensions of the crisis. The study demonstrates that international media do not merely report events but actively shape geopolitical interpretations by legitimizing certain state actions and influencing global diplomatic responses. By situating media narratives within broader power relations and ideological frameworks, the paper contributes to scholarship on media framing, terrorism studies, and international relations, highlighting the role of global media as influential actors in the construction of South Asian security discourse.
Abstract: This paper examines how international media outlets reported the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir and how these narratives shaped emerging India–Pakistan tensions. The primary objective of the study is to analyze variations in language use, attribution of responsibility, and geopolitical framing across global media cover...
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Research Article
Regional Realignments: Harmonizing Human Rights Frameworks in East and Southern Africa
Jackson Marwa Oringa*
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
15-22
Received:
9 April 2025
Accepted:
29 May 2025
Published:
19 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ipa.20261001.12
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Abstract: This paper argues that creation of a coherent and efficient system of protection of human rights across the African continent is undermined by enormous structural and normative differences between the sub-regional schemes a case on the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Through a critical comparative legal examination, the study examines the constitutive treaties, organizational frameworks, and enforcement bodies of the two regions. It describes significant variation in the binding nature of human rights instruments, regional court jurisdiction, and the political participation evident in member states. While each community formulates human rights principles, their application and enforcement in practice are unequal due to diverging legal standards and a lack of institutional strength. The article stresses the consequences of this fragmentation, such as restricted access to justice, absence of coherent jurisprudence, and undermining of legitimacy and authority of regional human rights institutions. For these purposes, the article proposes certain policy measures, such as harmonization of legal systems, strengthening judicial independence and expertise, and promotion of political accountability of member states. It contends that harmonizing the human rights systems of the EAC and SADC would not only increase legal certainty and improve coherence in application but also propel regional integration and cooperation. Ultimately, this study adds to ongoing scholarly and policy debate on strengthening human rights protection on the African continent by presenting practicable steps for overcoming sub-regional divisions and consolidating an integrated, effective continental system of human rights.
Abstract: This paper argues that creation of a coherent and efficient system of protection of human rights across the African continent is undermined by enormous structural and normative differences between the sub-regional schemes a case on the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Through a critical comparative...
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