Conflicting Reports on Pakistan and Quality Reporting

On Monday, HuffPost's Eyes and Ears kicked off our two-week Pakistan News Hunt in partnership with News Trust. Thanks to over a hundred Eyes & Ears investigators who signed up through News Trust, we have highlighted some great journalism on the situation in Pakistan.

We started by compiling stories about the conflict in Swat Valley, where displaced residents have recently begun to return after months of fighting between the military and Taliban forces. Internally displaced Pakistanis who have returned to their homes in Swat Valley after months in refugee camps feel unsafe, and accounts from the Pakistani, U.S. and international press have offered contradictory reports on how secure the North West Frontier Province is now.

The Wall Street Journal reported (News Hunt reviews) that Taliban militants, after being scattered by the Pakistani army, have regrouped and resumed attacks on towns and villages in Swat Valley. Whether a last hurrah or the makings of a new campaign, "the renewed violence is a sharp reminder that the offensive for the strategic valley, which won effusive praise from the U.S. and European nations, remains far from complete."

The WSJ also reported that the Taliban continue to carry out beheadings in and around Mingora, the main town in Swat Valley.

Dawn, a mainstream English-language daily in Pakistan, similarly reported (NH reviews) relative calm in Mingora:

...but it is too early to declare a victory. Army officials concede that the insurgents have not been completely rooted out and there are still some strong pockets of resistance ... Army claims to have eliminated second and third tiers of Taliban commanders, but the top leadership has so far survived, raising fears of insurgents regrouping once the operation is over.

A blog post from CHUP! -- Changing Up Pakistan, written by a Pakistani who lives in the U.S., analyzed recent coverage of the conflict and offered this conclusion (NT reviews):

It is clear that we are far, far away from the zero-sum game of conventional warfare... Therefore, it seems the major difference between this offensive and Pakistan's past military operations is a deeper understanding of what constitutes a "success." In counterinsurgency warfare, success is defined not by victories in the battle space, but the ability to maintain security in its aftermath.

Please take a minute and join our Pakistan News Hunt. Start reviewing articles and help HuffPost feature the most important coverage from the region. Sign up here and learn more about the project here.

Later in the week the news hunt shifted its focus to U.S. involvement in Pakistan. The U.S. has a vested interest in the stability and border security of a country whose neighbors include Afghanistan and Iran -- so it's no surprise that the U.S. is stepping up efforts to influence policy in Pakistan.

The Los Angeles Times ran a positive review of current diplomatic efforts, quoting U.S. and Pakistani military (NH reviews) sources who said intelligence sharing and military cooperation have increased between the two countries. And the Washington Post reported (NH reviews) that "the Obama administration has pledged to bring economic relief to these [Pakistan-Afghanistan] border regions dominated by Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters."

Pakistan's historically fraught relationship with India is also a source of tension. With regard to keeping the Indian-Pakistan relationship stable, Frontline (India) wrote (NH reviews) that the best approach for the United States is a subtle one:

The idea of "quiet diplomacy" and "behind the scenes" action is very much the hallmark of the Obama approach ... most analysts recognize that the United States' foreign policy has framed a considerable part of India-Pakistan relations, and given this, the gentle nudge from Washington plays an immense role both in Islamabad and in New Delhi.

HuffPost's Eyes & Ears will continue to hunt for quality journalism about Pakistan, and we hope you will join us.

Comments

[Napoleon]

I am not sure this is a good use of time. Pakistan, with a population the 6th largest in the world, has too many interesting, worthwhile new stories about it for Huffington Post, through the Pakistan News Hunt, to make this a priority matter. But amongst all the important news stories about Pakistan, one category stands out in particular for me as a U.S. resident. That category, in reality a compound of issues, is the impact of U.S. warring actions and concomitant intervention in Pakistan's insurgencies on feeding the internal strifes and insurgencies in Pakistan, causing death and destruction there, eroding Pakistan's sovereignty, and undermining U.S. compliance with the rule of law. This category has a particular relevancy and urgency for U.S. citizens because it identifies where they may perhaps have a unique role to play and responsibility to meet.

[lainey]

Matthew, the reporting on this matter that comes from citizen reporters has brought much to light--nothing sensational, just the facts and personal stories. I appreciate what has come out of this reporting and thanks to all who have brought the real story to life. The situation is precarious at best, and having "eyes and hears" that really care, makes a story truly impactful. Thanks to you and all who are contributing.