Middle East Forum expert calls out double standards in reporting, says ignoring Pakistan’s terror links is poor journalism
London [UK], May 10: Jonathan Spyer, Director of Research at the Middle East Forum, has sharply criticised the Western media’s portrayal of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, accusing outlets of double standards and selective terminology when covering terrorism in non-Western countries.
In an interview, Spyer stated that while Western outlets unhesitatingly label acts of violence in the West as terrorism, they tend to use diluted terms like “militants” when reporting attacks in regions like South Asia.
“It is unfortunate regarding Western coverage that when terrorist organisations, including Islamist outfits, target Western civilians, they’re called terrorists. But when non-Western populations are attacked, suddenly ‘objectivity’ and ‘neutrality’ come into play. It’s deeply mistaken,” Spyer said.
He also condemned the media’s failure to acknowledge Pakistan’s direct role in sponsoring terrorism. According to Spyer, such omissions don’t reflect neutrality—they reflect ignorance and irresponsible journalism.
“The reason for the current escalation is Pakistan’s support for Islamist terror groups. Failing to report this isn’t being objective—it’s simply bad reporting,” he added.
Spyer further argued that calls for de-escalation—often issued without context—reflect a broader Western bias, where non-Western countries are expected to show restraint, regardless of who provoked the situation.
“Everyone wants peace, but it’s vital to present a clear picture of who escalated the conflict and why. Oversimplifying or ignoring the trigger helps no one,” he said.
His remarks came amid backlash against certain Western media outlets, including The New York Times, for referring to the Pahalgam attackers as “militants.” A US Government foreign affairs panel also rebuked the terminology in a viral social media post, stating:
“Hey, New York Times, we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK, plain and simple. Whether it’s India or Israel, when it comes to terrorism, the NYT is removed from reality.”
The Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives, has sparked military and diplomatic tensions in the region, prompting experts like Spyer to call for more honest, factual reporting that holds terror sponsors accountable.