India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgam attack

ISLAMABAD- The Indian government has blocked access to 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, following recommendations from its Ministry of Home Affairs, amid escalating tensions between the two countries after a deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The attack, which occurred on April 22 and claimed the lives of 26 individuals, mostly tourists, is considered one of the deadliest in the disputed Himalayan region since 2000. A little-known group allegedly claimed the incident called The Resistance Front (TRF).

Without providing any evidence, India has suggested cross-border involvement, a claim Pakistan has firmly denied. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an impartial investigation into the attack.

The banned YouTube channels include those of major Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, BOL News, Suno News, and Raftar. Several journalists, including Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, Muneeb Farooq, and Rizwan Razi, also had their channels blocked.

According to Dawn.com, attempts to access these channels from within India have been unsuccessful.

As of now, no Pakistani official or authority has issued a statement regarding the Indian move.

The ban message displayed on YouTube states that the content is blocked due to an “order from the government related to national security or public order.”

Even prominent personalities such as former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar faced the ban, with his channel restricted. Similarly, Uzair Cricket, another cricket commentary channel, was reportedly blocked.

The Pakistan Experience, a podcast channel run by content creator Shehzad Ghias, also reported being banned in India. Ghias questioned the move, humorously asking if a “minor podcast” could truly be considered a national security threat. He maintained that the podcast episode discussing the Pahalgam incident was balanced and did not warrant such action.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs accused the banned channels of promoting “false narratives” against India, its military, and security forces. Authorities further alleged that the content spread “provocative” and “communal” sentiments aimed at inciting unrest.

Indian news agency ANI shared a complete list of the blocked channels on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

Source: Reports