New Delhi, April 26 — The government of India directed media outlets on Saturday to refrain from showing live coverage of military operations and the movement of forces, contending that such reportage may inadvertently help hostile elements.
The guideline came as forces intensified search operations across the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir to track down militants after the Pahalgam attack.
“In the interest of national security, all media platforms, news agencies, and social media users are advised to exercise utmost responsibility and adhere strictly to existing laws and regulations while reporting on matters concerning defence and other security-related operations,” said the guideline issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“Specifically: No real-time coverage, dissemination of visuals, or reporting based on ‘sources-based’ information related to defence operations or movement should be undertaken,” it stated.
The advisory also said that premature disclosure of sensitive information may inadvertently assist hostile elements and endanger operational effectiveness and the safety of personnel.
The advisory cited past incidents such as the Kargil war, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking, when “unrestricted coverage had unintended adverse consequences on national interests”.