India has blocked access to over a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels as part of a broad social media crackdown following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The move, announced Monday, April 28, comes in response to what the Indian government described as the spread of provocative and false content.
Among the banned channels are those operated by major Pakistani news outlets, including Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Bol News, Raftar, and Suno News.
Users in India attempting to access these platforms were met with a notice stating the content was restricted “due to an order from the government related to national security or public order.”
According to the Press Trust of India, a total of 16 channels were blocked for allegedly disseminating communally sensitive material, misinformation, and narratives deemed harmful to India’s national interest.
The action follows the April 22 mass shooting in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed in what has been described as the region’s deadliest attack in decades.
India has blamed Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism—allegations that Islamabad denies, including any involvement in the Pahalgam incident.
In the aftermath, India’s Information Ministry issued a public advisory urging journalists and social media users to act responsibly when reporting on national security matters. The advisory referenced past conflicts, including the 1999 Kargil War, warning that premature or sensitive disclosures could compromise defense operations.
Nationalist sentiment has surged on social media, with hashtags like #WarWithPakistan and #FinishPakistan trending widely on X (formerly Twitter).
