US House Foreign Affairs Committee slams New York Times for calling Pahalgam attackers ‘militants’ instead of ‘terrorists’

The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee has sharply criticised The New York Times over its coverage of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were brutally killed. The controversy stems from the newspaper’s choice of language in its original headline, which described the attackers as “militants” rather than “terrorists.”

The New York Times’ initial headline read, “At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir.” The phrasing drew swift backlash from US lawmakers and Indian authorities alike, accusing the newspaper of downplaying the gravity of the assault.

In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), the US House Foreign Affairs Committee posted a screenshot of the NYT headline, crossing out the word “militants” and replacing it with “terrorists” in bold red. “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,” the committee wrote.

The committee’s remarks align with Washington’s increasingly firm stance on global terrorism, particularly when it affects allied democracies like India. In the wake of the attack, President Donald Trump personally called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn the violence and expressed full support for India’s efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Vice President JD Vance also reached out to PM Modi, condemning the “heinous” attack and offering condolences. Vance reiterated that the United States stands with India in combating terrorism and supporting justice for the victims.

India, in response to the massacre, has launched a series of diplomatic and strategic countermeasures against Pakistan, accusing it of backing cross-border terrorism. The Centre has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and ordered Pakistani diplomatic staff to leave the country. Visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme have also been cancelled.

Prime Minister Modi, speaking from Bihar, vowed that India will relentlessly pursue terrorists and their sponsors. “We will trace them to the ends of the Earth,” he said, sending a strong message both to domestic audiences and international observers.

The NYT controversy underscores growing global frustration over inconsistent media framing of terror incidents, especially those targeting civilians in conflict regions like Kashmir.