Pakistan- US Relations in Elite Press (2012-2013)

Abstract

Pakistan-USA relations have witnessed many ups and downs throughout the history of their interaction. The elite press on both sides played an important role in shaping and re-shaping attitudes,policies, and public opinion over various bilateral and regional issues. Post 9/11 situation expanded the part of the press on both sides due to war on terror cooperation and subsequent developments. Regime changes in America or Pakistan are often perceived as a harbinger of new policy shifts with anticipations of a new era of bilateral relations. The last year of the PPP government in Pakistan witnessed re-election of Barack Obama for the second term, but Pakistan's upcoming elections were more speculative interms of office holder and the party. The scholar are divided about the role of the elite press in policy making and influencing the policy-making process through their content and issue projection.But the press on both sides published their approaches through editorials over a number of issues that could be major component of the upcoming government's policy-making process. War on terror,political discourse, religion, and politics remained choices for editorials for Daily Dawn and Washington Post during that period of time.