Framing War through Words: A Critical Discourse Analysis of DG ISPR’s Press Statements in the Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos

Abstract

This study critically examines the use of military discourse as a tool of power and ideology by analyzing the public statements of DG ISPR, Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, during the 2025 Pak-India conflict.The study looks at how language shapes national identity and supports state actions during war. It focuses on military press statements by DG ISPR during the 2025 Pak-India conflict. Using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis model, the research examines five official statements to see how language is used to counter enemy claims and promote nationalism. The study uses a qualitative method to understand how words influence public opinion and power. The study reveals that the DG ISPR employed emotionally charged metaphors, nationalist rhetoric, and ideological framing to delegitimize Indian aggression, assert Pakistan’s sovereignty, and construct a unified public consciousness. Lexical items such as mockery of journalism, dream stories, and we will never bow down served not only as defense but as tools of resistance and power projection. The study helps us understand how the military, politics, and media use language during times of conflict. This shows that in modern conflicts, language is a powerful weapon. The study offers new insight into how military communication influences public opinion and national identity during war.