Pakistan, April 23 -- Even before the sound of gunfire rocking Phalagam, Indian-administered Kashmir, could fade into the background, prominent news channels and government-aligned social media handles began beating a now-familiar drum: Pakistan was to blame. The readiness with which this accusation was made and accepted by society (minus any credible investigation or verification) speaks volumes about a deeper, more troubling pattern in Modi's statecraft and media strategy.

No surprises there. The immediate vilification of Pakistan in the wake of any violence in Kashmir has become an almost ritualistic response: predictable, rehearsed, and devoid of nuance. Phalagam was no exception. Instead of pausing for facts, Indian state-sponsored ...