TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL OF LASTING PEACE IN J&K

BARAMULLA: The Dagger Infantry Division conducted a seminar at Baramulla with the aim of achieving synergy between the efforts of the Military and the Media. The Seminar “Media and Military : Towards a Common Goal of Lasting Peace in J & K”, successfully provided a platform for sharing of views and ideas of military and media on their functioning and understanding each other’s responsibilities. 

           

The distinguished speakers included Maj General (Retired) Raj Mehta, erstwhile General Officer Commanding of the Dagger Division, Syed Sujaat Bukhari, Mr Sameer Yasir, Asst Professor in Centre for International relations at Islamic University of Science and Technology, Srinagar and a young journalist from Pulwama, Mr Waheed–ur-Rehman.

           

The speakers accepted the far reaching impact of the media and its capability to heavily influence local perceptions and thus ‘drive the happenings in the Valley’. The requirement of the Military and the Media to be mutually supportive emerged clearly. The need for having a close interaction between the military and the media was emphasized as was the need for responsible and ethical reporting which presents the correct perspective. Issues related to the pressures of “breaking news” leading to publishing of news items without due analysis and verification were also analysed.

           

The Seminar saw participation by a wide spectrum of the society to include civil dignitaries like the DIG BSF, DC Baramulla, Principal St Joseph Convent and other Govt schools of Baramula, local media correspondents, journalism students from Kashmir University as also school and college students in addition to senior Army, Police, BSF and CRPF officials.

           

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen SA Hasnain, General Officer Commanding 15 Corps emphasized that peace cannot be ushered in overnight and definitely not with just the efforts of a single agency. He said that for this the military, the media and the AWAM need to combine their efforts. 

 

The General highlighted that the terrorists also need the media to publicise their deeds and retain their fast eroding support base but it is for the media to shun sensationalism and embrace the tenets of truthful reporting. He concluded the event by expressing confidence that the outcome of this seminar will harbinger such coordination and cohesion between the media and the military that peace will once again reign supreme in Kashmir.