My story on the India–Pakistan air conflict ranked as Nikkei Asia’s most read story from South Asia in 2025
How fact-based reporting on this story turned into a campaign of coordinated online targeting.
Dear Readers,
In a year crowded with major developments across South Asia, one story stood out clearly for readers. My reporting on how Pakistan used Chinese-made fighter jets to shoot down Indian aircraft during the May crisis emerged as the most-read story of Nikkei Asia in 2025 from South Asia.
The story captured a moment when long-simmering tensions between India and Pakistan tipped into open confrontation. The reporting showed how Chinese-made J-10C jets operated by Pakistan played a decisive role in aerial engagements, bringing down Indian fighters and challenging long-held assumptions about air power in South Asia. It highlighted how Beijing’s military technology has quietly become central to Pakistan’s defense posture, with direct battlefield consequences.
The story also resonated because it went beyond the clash itself. It raised broader questions about deterrence between two nuclear-armed rivals, the changing balance of air power, and how external suppliers are reshaping South Asia’s security landscape. For many readers, it offered a clearer view of how future crises in the region may unfold.
Targeted for reporting
The impact of the story was not limited to readership alone. The reporting also triggered a public backlash. Indian television anchor Palki Sharma of Firstpost publicly criticized the work, describing it as biased and alleging that foreign media outlets were relying on Pakistani journalists to frame narratives around Kashmir and the broader conflict. This news report was cited as an example.
What followed was a wave of coordinated online attacks. Social media timelines and inboxes were flooded with hostile messages. Some accused the reporting of fabrication. Others questioned credibility solely on the basis of nationality.
It is important to state this clearly. Every element of the reporting was verified. The assessment that Pakistan’s J-10C jets shot down Indian aircraft, including a Rafale, was confirmed by both U.S. and French intelligence sources. This was not speculation or opinion. It was fact-based journalism grounded in multiple independent confirmations.
The episode underscored a harsh reality of conflict reporting. In moments of national crisis, journalists can become targets simply for documenting uncomfortable facts. The backlash was unjustified, but it also reinforced a core principle of the profession. Journalism is not about taking sides. It is about informing the public, even when the truth challenges dominant narratives.
The strong readership response to this story reflected a global appetite for reporting that connects battlefield events with strategic shifts. It also showed that audiences value verification and clarity at a time when misinformation spreads quickly.
Best Regards,
Adnan Aamir