Saturday, March 29, 2025
India has banned 16 major Pakistani YouTube channels-including those of prominent news outlets and former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar-for spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and misinformation against India in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The decision was made on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs after it was found that these channels were disseminating false narratives and content intended to incite communal tensions, particularly following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
The banned channels collectively have around 63 million subscribers and include major Pakistani news networks such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News. YouTube channels run by journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq were also blocked for Indian users. Other banned channels include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, GNN, and Razi Naama.
Indian users trying to access these channels now receive a message from YouTube stating that the content is unavailable in the country due to a government order related to national security or public order.
The move comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and widespread protests in India demanding stricter action after the Pahalgam attack. The government has also criticized international media, including the BBC, for their coverage of the incident, objecting to the use of terms like “militant” for the attackers.
