The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of major news outlets and former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, in a significant crackdown following the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. The government cited national security concerns, accusing the channels of spreading provocative, communally sensitive content, and false narratives against India, its Army, and security agencies.
The banned platforms, which collectively boast around 63 million subscribers, include prominent Pakistani news channels such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News. YouTube channels operated by journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq have also been blocked for Indian users. Other banned channels include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.
Sources within the government confirmed that the action was taken on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The decision followed the discovery that these channels were propagating misinformation and content aimed at inciting communal tensions, particularly after the Pahalgam tragedy. On 22 April, terrorists killed 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri in the Baisaran valley.
Indian users attempting to access the banned channels are now met with a message from YouTube that reads: "This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report."
The Indian government has also criticised the BBC for its coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack. In a strongly worded letter, the government objected to the use of the term "militants" to describe the terrorists who attacked the tourists. The government called for a correction and made it clear that it would continue to monitor the BBC's coverage of the incident.
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