New Delhi [India]: In a significant move amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, the Government of India on Monday banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative, communally sensitive, and misleading content against India, its Army, and security agencies, government sources confirmed.
The action was taken following the recommendation of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Among the banned channels are major Pakistani media outlets including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, sources said.
Context: Heightened Tensions Post-Pahalgam Terror Attack
The crackdown comes in the backdrop of the tragic April 22 terror attack near Baisaran Meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, including tourists and a Nepalese national, were killed.
The horrific assault is being regarded as one of the most devastating terror incidents in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans.
Following the attack, India has intensified both its security measures along the Line of Control (LoC) and its diplomatic efforts to counter cross-border terrorism and misinformation.
Government’s Rationale for the Ban
According to officials, the banned Pakistani channels were actively involved in:
- Spreading fake news and anti-India propaganda.
- Disseminating communal hatred and trying to disrupt public order.
- Maligning the image of the Indian Armed Forces and security agencies.
The government emphasized that such content had the potential to disturb the country’s peace, communal harmony, and national security.