Beyond the Battlefield: A Comparative Linguistic Analysis of Pak-Indian Military Narratives in the May 2025 Conflict

Abstract

This study examines the linguistic construction of victory and national identity in military narratives by conducting a comparative linguistic analysis of press briefings from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations and India’s Press Information Bureau following the 2025 Indo-Pak military clash. Both institutions held press conferences during the conflict and after the ceasefire on May 11, 2025, aiming to frame the national triumph and justify their military stance. Through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics and Appraisal Theory, the study investigates how rhetorical strategies are employed to project national identity, legitimise military actions, and delegitimise the opponent. Findings reveal that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations uses assertive language, active voice, and war metaphors to portray a decisive victory to reinforce national unity, while India’s Press Information Bureau adopts a more cautious tone, favouring passive constructions and diplomatic appeals to construct moral superiority and global responsibility. Both narratives heavily rely on inclusive pronouns “we” and strategic ambiguity around the ceasefire to safeguard institutional reputation and sustain public support. This research contributes to conflict communication and peacebuilding studies by showing how military discourse shapes collective memory, nationalist sentiment, and perceptions of legitimacy in military conflicts. The analysis emphasises the pivotal role of language in identity formation and ideological framing. Future research should expand this inquiry to include audience reception and the evolving influence of digital media on military narratives.