In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, with a combined subscriber base of 63 million, for circulating provocative and communally sensitive content, government sources said. Acting on the Union Home Ministry’s recommendation, the move targets channels accused of pushing false narratives against India, its Army, and security forces.
The banned platforms include news outlets like Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Geo News, Raftar, and Suno News. YouTube channels of journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq have also been restricted, alongside other channels such as The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.
Users attempting to access these channels are now greeted with the message:
“This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report (transparencyreport.google.com).”
The crackdown follows the brutal killing of 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri in Pahalgam. In response, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty and halted visa services for Pakistani nationals. Islamabad has reacted by threatening to suspend all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, stating,
“From Kargil to Kanyakumari, there is grief and rage. This attack was not just on innocent tourists; the country’s enemies have shown the audacity to attack India’s soul.”
He further added, “The time has come to raze whatever is left of the terror haven. The will of 140 crores will break the back of the masters of terror.”
Meanwhile, the government has issued a warning to BBC over a controversial headline:
“Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack on tourists.”
Officials noted that the headline could misleadingly suggest India was behind the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs conveyed India’s “strong sentiments” to Jackie Martin, BBC India Head, and sent a formal letter objecting to BBC’s description of terrorists as militants. The government will continue to monitor BBC’s reporting closely.
