Religious Extremism, Bin Laden and Pakistan: A Content Analysis of the British and the US Mainstream Print Media

Abstract

This research article presents an overview of the phenomena of religious extremism in the context of Pakistan. The study also aimed to divulge the nature and treatment of news and editorial coverage about political leadership and military top brass of Pakistan in the four selected newspapers, two each from the UK (the Telegraph & the Guardian) and the US (the New York Times and the Washington Post) one- month each pre and post of Operation Neptune Spear in the context of Osama Bin Laden (OBL) killing on May 2, 2011, at Abbottabad in Pakistan. This content analysis-based study was theoretically linked with the propaganda model of Herman and Chomsky and Shoemaker and Reese‘s theory of content effect. The ISI, a top spy agency was depicted as a rogue organization that was held responsible for sheltering bin Laden as well as painted as a state within the state. It was also explored that the four selected newspapers adopted a comparatively softer tone and depicted the pro-Western, liberals’ individuals and ruling political parties in more favorable manners as compared to the right-wing groups which received more negative frames. The wholesome picture as the results expounds that both the British and American press painted Chief of Army Staff, General Kiyani as a hardliner for India and not showing any soft stance for American military tactics of drones and projected him as a supporter of domestic Jihadists. On the whole ISI, the top spy agency blamed for sheltering Bin Laden and the military establishment was criticized for her alleged support for extremist organizations. On the contrary, the civilian leadership of Pakistan especially the President and the Prime Minister were painted positively concerning Operation Neptune Spear as they were portrayed as more sincere towards the elimination of extremism and war on terror in comparison to the military establishment.