The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels on recommendations from its Ministry of Home Affairs, accusing them of spreading provocative content and false narratives, Pakistani media outlets reported on Monday.
Tensions have risen between the two Asian nations following a recent attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and is one of the deadliest armed attacks in the disputed Himalayan region since the year 2000. Responsibility for the attack was allegedly claimed by the hitherto unknown The Resistance Front (TRF).
India, without offering any evidence, has implied cross-border linkages of the attackers, while Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a neutral probe into the incident.
The YouTube channels blocked by the Indian authorities include Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Bol News, and Raftar.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that these YouTube channels were pushing “false narratives” against India, its army, and security agencies.
The Indian authorities maintained that these channels were spreading “provocative, communally sensitive” content, aimed at “inciting communal tensions”.
The journalists whose channels have been banned included Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq.
Even renowned former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s channel was not spared.
Dawn.com confirmed that these YouTube channels could not be accessed in India.
No authority or official in Pakistan has commented on the matter so far.
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