Journalist Jahanzaib Ali stands firm after backlash over Pentagon question

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year |  Imran Naeem Ahmad

ISLAMABAD— Jahanzaib Ali, a correspondent for Pakistan's ARY News Television has spoken to JournalismPakistan.com about the severe backlash and threats he has faced following a question he posed at a Pentagon briefing. Ali's inquiry centered on the potential involvement of foreign governments in an attack on former U.S. President Donald Trump. This question, interpreted by some as implicating India, has drawn significant controversy.

Ali recounted his experiences, stating, "This is not the first time that the Indian media has targeted me and tried to portray me as an anti-Indian journalist. It's not just on social media; a few months ago, I received death threats from unknown callers asking me to stop asking questions about India, especially regarding the Modi government. I had detailed meetings about these threats with the State Department and the FBI."

He emphasized his dedication to his profession and the necessity of asking difficult questions. "I am just doing my job, and I will continue to do so. People need to understand that it is the job of a journalist to ask tough questions. Unfortunately, in India and Pakistan, people often take this personally."

Ali also revealed that he faces similar threats from Pakistani sources when he addresses sensitive topics. "I sometimes receive similar threats and feedback from Pakistan when I ask tough questions about religious freedom and the military's involvement in politics, so I'm used to it."

The controversy began during a Pentagon briefing where Ali posed the following question: "But do you think that any foreign country involved in this kind of assassination attempts to create disturbance in this country? …Recently we have seen a foreign government and foreign intelligence agencies involved in the assassination attempt on a US citizen here in New York and also in Canada. So, do you think that any foreign country can perform this?"

This inquiry quickly drew the ire of the Indian media. India's print.in reported, "A Pakistani journalist has implied the role of Indian agencies in the assassination attempt on former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In a press briefing by the Pentagon’s Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Tuesday, Jahanzaib Ali, the Washington Correspondent for ARY News, sparked controversy by asking him about a foreign country's involvement in the attack against Trump. Without naming India, Ali pointed out the recent allegations of foreign involvement in assassination attempts of citizens of the US and Canada."

Ali clarified his intentions regarding the question. "My question at the Pentagon, which has angered some Indians, was simply about the possibility of foreign government involvement in an attack on President Trump. I referenced a situation where agents allegedly involved in an assassination attempt on a US citizen, resulting in a death in Canada, were linked without mentioning India."

Despite the threats and backlash, Ali remains committed to his role as a journalist, dedicated to uncovering the truth and fostering transparency.

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