Threat Framing of CPEC In Pakistani Newspapers: Post Dasu Attach Analysis

Abstract

This research intends to study geostrategic and eco-political threats attached to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) concerning Pakistani media coverage of Dasu attack in 2021. While 13 workers, including Chinese engineers were killed which resultantly resurfaced the security threat attached to this project. To analyze the media’s apprehension about the incident and framing trends, editorials of four leading newspapers, two English; Dawn and The Nation, two Urdu: Daily Jang and Daily Express, were selected with a duration from July 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022. Previous studies helped in determining to incorporate ‘threat frame’ to be analyzed in editorials which further lead to quantify its coverage frequency. The findings revealed that newspapers indicated towards threats of security, insurgencies, internal and external terrorism attacks with serious apprehension to be resolved. The findings also concluded that editorial manuscripts help in steering and determining geopolitical issues in constructive ways.