Journalistic perspectives on cross-border peace journalism between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Abstract

This study explores the potential of peace journalism practices to normalize relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Drawing on peace journalism theory, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 journalists—10 from each country. The findings reveal that many journalists were critical of current media practices, which often foster animosity and reinforce negative stereotypes about the neighboring country. The journalists believed that core principles of peace journalism—such as providing context, exploring sociocultural dimensions of events, and offering solutions—are both relevant and feasible in the regional context. They emphasized the importance of humanizing the current securitized narratives. The findings suggest that adopting peace journalism could not only rebuild public trust in the media but also strengthen journalism's role as a socially responsible institution.