The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels on the recommendation of its Ministry of Home Affairs, according to reports from both Pakistani and Indian media on Monday.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, a region in occupied Kashmir. The April 22 assault in Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 people, primarily tourists, marking one of the most devastating attacks in the region since 2000. The attack was reportedly claimed by a previously unknown group, The Resistance Front (TRF).
India has suggested that the attackers may have cross-border links, although it has not provided evidence. Pakistan has vehemently denied any involvement, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for an impartial investigation into the incident.
The Indian government has blocked several prominent Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Bol News, Suno News, and Raftar. Journalists whose channels were affected include Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, Muneeb Farooq, and Rizwan Razi.
Dawn.com confirmed that these channels are inaccessible in India. The official notice displayed in India states that the blocking was due to an “order from the government related to national security or public order.”
Even former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel was among those banned, as well as Uzair Cricket, a commentary channel. The Pakistan Experience, a podcast run by content creator Shehzad Ghias, was also blocked. Ghias expressed frustration, questioning whether their podcast, which featured a balanced discussion on the Pahalgam attack, posed a “national security risk.”
The list of blocked channels was shared by the Indian news agency ANI on its X account. Additionally, on April 24, Indian media reported that the Modi administration had blocked the Pakistani government’s X account in India, further escalating the tension between the two countries.
