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April 29, 2025 – Pakistan/India –
In the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu civilians, India has implemented a series of stringent measures targeting Pakistani media and analysts. These actions are part of a broader strategy to counter what the Indian government describes as a surge in misinformation and provocative content originating from Pakistan.
Ban on Pakistani Analysts and Journalists
The Indian government has prohibited the appearance of Pakistani analysts and journalists on Indian television channels. Media outlets have been directed to feature leaders from Pakistan’s opposition parties instead during talk shows. This move aims to limit the dissemination of narratives perceived as hostile or misleading in the wake of the Pahalgam incident.
Blocking of Pakistani YouTube Channels
In a significant digital crackdown, India has banned 16 Pakistan-based YouTube channels accused of spreading provocative and communally sensitive content, as well as false and misleading narratives against India, its Army, and security agencies. The banned channels include prominent Pakistani news outlets such as Geo News, Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, and BOL News. Additionally, YouTube channels operated by well-known journalists, including Muneeb Farooq, Umar Cheema, Asma Shirazi, and Irshad Bhatti, have been blocked.
Social Media Restrictions
The Indian government has also taken steps to restrict access to the social media accounts of certain Pakistani personalities. Notably, the X (formerly Twitter) account of Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has been banned in India following his remarks suggesting that India staged the Pahalgam attack to provoke a regional crisis. Other Pakistani figures, including actor Fawad Khan and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have also seen their social media accounts blocked within India.
Broader Diplomatic and Economic Measures
These media-related actions are part of a wider set of retaliatory measures between India and Pakistan. Both countries have closed their only open land border, shut airspace to each other’s airlines, and suspended mutual port visits. India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a pivotal water-sharing agreement, prompting Pakistan to warn that any diversion would be seen as an “act of war.”
The situation remains volatile, with both nations engaging in a series of tit-for-tat actions that have escalated tensions in the region. The international community continues to monitor developments closely, urging restraint and dialogue to prevent further deterioration of relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Reference –
Pakistani analysts, journalists banned on Indian TV channels
