With a daily barrage of Pakistani news, it is often difficult to determine who's talking and who isn't. With so much happening in Pakistan, can you really trust the information you read? When the subject matter is terrorism, you can almost be sure that someone somewhere will try to stir up trouble with the hopes of creating outrage or bringing attention to a particular cause. For this reason, when reading Pakistani news, it is important to avoid premature interpretations.

There are many situations where people wish to generate such attention. There are many reasons why people would wish to cause a stir, but one of the most common reasons is because they want to advance their agenda. Sometimes, the causes are legitimate and sometimes they are not.

The coverage of terrorism and other issues has a significant effect on Pakistan's national news. Here are a few things you need to know about Pakistan's political and national news coverage:

• It is the job of journalists to serve as the first line of defense against propaganda and editorial coverage that focuses on political and social agendas. This is especially true for the national news. Journalists have a duty to uphold and protect the constitutional rights of the citizens.

• Islamic radicalism has been a constant thorn in the side of Pakistan. According to international intelligence analysts, the main cause of the unrest in the country is the government's failure to address and confront Islamic radicals. At the same time, there has been a drastic increase in the sale of weapons in Pakistan, which some fear is directly or indirectly contributing to the situation. Experts say that the increasing influence of Islamic radicals is helping to create new demands for arms in Pakistan.

• On the whole, state news and media outlets rarely take a strong stand on the problem of Islamic extremism. There is a difference between the stories on Islamic extremists and the stories that deal with other political and social issues, but the reporting is so confusing that it makes it nearly impossible to tell the difference.
• In early 2020, the chief editor resigned from his post and was fired from his position. The official reason was that he violated the newspaper's policy of never referring to a particular group or individual by name. Later, though, it was revealed that the editor was fired because he refused to publish the story that accused former President Pervez Musharraf​ of involvement in the genocide.

• Many pro-Pakistan media outlets also say that the mainstream media does not have a solid grasp of what is happening in Pakistan. Some of these outlets believe that the media is less objective and truthful than the pro-Pakistan ones. They say that the media's coverage of terrorism is biased, and that the reporting has created a fog of uncertainty over the news in Pakistan.

• It is clear that both the national news and the international news coverage are quite misleading. In most cases, you will not see any solid proof as to what is going on. As a result, many people are asking the question, "who the hell are we supposed to believe?" This is a central part of any journalism, but it is particularly crucial when dealing with international news. Only facts, not the speculation of experts and political pundits can guide you through an investigation.

• If you are interested in Pakistani national news, then it's probably a good idea to avoid the national news. Instead, go with a lower-end outlet such as Dawn News. Unlike some of the other news sources, the nation's largest newspaper does not attempt to cover politics as much as it covers more topical topics. For those interested in international news, it is worth paying a visit to CNN, CNBC or other popular cable television networks. The international news channels will give you a slightly more comprehensive view of the Middle East and sub-continent.