Battle of Minds

This study explored the frames used by the Pakistani Elite print media The Dawn, The News and The Nation in their editorial coverage of the war in tribal areas from January 2008 to December 2008. Through a content analysis of 322 editorials, the researcher investigated the media's framing about the long ambiguous debate of whether Pakistan is fighting a war of its own survival or a war of United States interests. Moreover, this study explored the conflict resolution presented by leading newspapers. Furthermore, it interrogates the portrayal of Taliban, United States, Afghanistan and common tribal people of FATA regarding war in tribal areas. Pakistani Elite Media declared the war in FATA as Pakistan's war' and a war of its own survival. Our English media consider sole military operation as invalid and counterproductive and support negotiation with Taliban. It's surprising that despite heavy military and non military financial aid and being Non-NATO ally of U.S, Pakistani leading media framed United States as Foe of Pakistan. Both Taliban and Afghanistan were portrayed as Foe of Pakistan while common people of tribal areas were framed as victims of war.