In a move aimed at safeguarding national security, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday released an advisory instructing all media organisations to avoid broadcasting live footage of military operations or troop movements.

The directive covers television channels, digital media outlets, news agencies, and even individual users on social media platforms, urging all parties to act with heightened caution and responsibility when reporting on defence-related activities.

"To protect national security interests, all media entities and social media users must adhere strictly to existing legal frameworks and exercise the highest levels of discretion when reporting on matters concerning military and security operations," the Ministry stated.

The advisory explicitly forbids real-time broadcasts, live updates from sensitive zones, and the sharing of "source-based" information regarding ongoing military engagements. Officials warned that premature disclosure of operational details could inadvertently aid hostile forces, compromise missions, and endanger the lives of security personnel.

Drawing lessons from historical incidents such as the Kargil War, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and the Kandahar plane hijacking, the Ministry underscored that unrestricted media coverage during critical events in the past had led to grave, unintended consequences harmful to national interests.

The statement emphasised that beyond compliance with legal mandates, it is a shared moral responsibility of the media, digital platforms, and citizens to safeguard the integrity of active military operations and ensure the protection of national security.

This latest advisory reiterates previous communications, reminding broadcasters of Rule 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which clearly prohibits live coverage of counter-terror operations, restricting media reporting to official briefings by designated government representatives until the situation is fully resolved.

The Ministry further cautioned that non-compliance with these directives would invite stringent legal action.

"In the interest of national security, all television broadcasters are advised against airing live coverage of counter-terrorism operations or security force movements," the advisory concluded.

Source: News Agencies