US slams New York Times for downplaying Pahalgam attack: ‘Call them terrorists, not militants’

The United States has strongly condemned The New York Times for its portrayal of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India, in which 28 people – including 26 tourists – were brutally killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

In its headline, The New York Times referred to the perpetrators as ‘militants’, prompting sharp backlash from various quarters, including the US government.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to rebuke the publication, stating:

“Hey, @nytimes, we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK, plain and simple. Whether it’s India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM, the NYT is removed from reality.”

Pahalgam attack

Armed terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists near the popular hill station of Pahalgam, Kashmir on Tuesday. 28 people were killed, 26 of whom were tourists from various parts of India. The attack has drawn international condemnation and renewed calls for a global crackdown on terrorism.

What’s the difference between militant and terrorist?

Militancy usually means an armed rebellion within a country, where groups fight the government to bring about political or social change. Militants mostly target police, army, or government buildings, and their actions stay within national borders.

Terrorism, on the other hand, is the deliberate use of violence against ordinary people to create fear and chaos. Terrorists often have links to foreign networks and try to destabilise entire regions to push a bigger political or religious agenda.