‘Nuclear rivals…’: How China, US, Russia, UK and world media are reporting India Pakistan war news
Tensions have sharply risen along the India-Pakistan border after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military campaign targeting terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan. The action was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the deadly strike.
While the situation along the border continues to worsen, international media coverage appears to be losing momentum just three days after India’s military operation began. Despite the growing seriousness of the conflict, some major global news platforms have not given it prominent space in their coverage. On May 10, leading newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Global Times did not highlight the India-Pakistan conflict on their front pages.
What global news outlets are reporting:
The New York Times
Although the top headlines on the homepage did not feature the conflict, a report titled “India and Pakistan Escalate Attacks to Military Bases” was found further down. The article explained that Pakistan had accused India of firing air-to-surface missiles at several military facilities. It also noted that Pakistan had launched retaliatory attacks shortly afterward. Other related stories on the site included earlier reports on the Pahalgam attack and a profile on Pakistan’s military chief, General Syed Asim Munir.
The Washington Post
On May 10, the Washington Post carried a piece titled “Pakistan strikes sites inside India, bringing nuclear rivals nearer to war”. The report underlined the risks of escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and pointed to rising global concerns over the situation.
TASS (Russian News Agency)
Russian media gave the story more prominence. TASS, a major state-run outlet, placed the India-Pakistan news among its top four headlines at the time. Citing Pakistani broadcaster GeoTV, it reported that Indian forces had carried out multiple strikes on Pakistani air force facilities.
Global Times & Chinese Media Coverage
China’s state-run outlet Global Times has largely echoed Pakistan’s narrative in its reporting. Other Chinese media, such as Xinhua News Agency and CGTN, have consistently cited Pakistani news sources in their updates about the conflict. Notably, their reports have mentioned that India has not yet officially responded to some of Pakistan’s claims. A pattern often seen in Beijing’s coverage of South Asian affairs.
The Guardian
In contrast to American outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, The Guardian, a UK-based newspaper has provided comprehensive coverage. One of its key headlines read: “India-Pakistan military reprisals escalate: what we know so far”. The report broke down the series of cross-border military exchanges.
Recent developments on India Pakistan war
At a press conference held in New Delhi on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri strongly criticized Pakistan’s recent military moves, describing them as “provocative and escalatory.” The remarks came as tensions along the India-Pakistan border have reached a critical point over the past few days. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who also addressed the media, revealed that Pakistan had attempted to strike an air base in Punjab. She added that Indian intelligence and surveillance units have observed Pakistani troops being moved closer to border areas a move seen as a serious signal of potential further escalation.
Colonel Qureshi also reported that Pakistan targeted not just military facilities, but also medical centers in key locations such as Srinagar, Avantipura, and Udhampur, raising alarm over attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Air raid on Srinagar and Indian response
Early Saturday morning, Pakistan Air Force jets launched an air raid over Srinagar. According to official sources, India’s retaliation was “effective and proportionate.”
The air raid followed a series of drone attacks carried out by Pakistan overnight, targeting several Indian border districts. However, India’s air defence systems successfully intercepted many of the hostile drones before they could do major damage.
Explosions and blackouts across border regions
By Friday evening, reports of explosions emerged from multiple areas: Srinagar airport vicinity, Samba, Baramulla, and Jammu city in Jammu and Kashmir; Pathankot and Ferozepur in Punjab; and Barmer in Rajasthan. Many of these regions experienced temporary blackouts as a precaution or result of the attacks, further highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The Indian government has made it clear that it will continue to act decisively to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens, amid growing fears of broader conflict.
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