New Delhi, April 28: In a firm response to the growing menace of misinformation and anti-India propaganda, the Government of India has blocked access to 16 YouTube channels based in Pakistan for allegedly spreading provocative, communally sensitive, and misleading content targeting India, its Army, and its security forces.
According to official sources, the decision was taken on Monday following detailed recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack on April 22 at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, primarily tourists from various states, lost their lives.
Authorities revealed that the blocked YouTube channels were actively engaged in creating and disseminating content that fueled communal tensions, propagated false narratives, and attempted to undermine India’s sovereignty and the morale of its security forces. “On the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India has banned these Pakistani YouTube channels for promoting misinformation and spreading hatred against India and its institutions, especially after the tragic Pahalgam terror incident,” the officials stated.
The channels blocked under the government’s latest crackdown include some well-known Pakistani media platforms and individual content creators such as Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, ARY News, BOL News, Raftar, The Pakistan Referenc, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, SUNO News, and Razi Naama.
In a parallel move, the government also took strong exception to the BBC’s coverage of the Pahalgam attack. A formal communication was sent to the British broadcaster objecting to its terminology, particularly its reference to the terrorists involved in the incident as “militants,” a description seen as downplaying the gravity of the terror act and its brutal targeting of innocent civilians.
The government’s actions underline its zero-tolerance approach towards malicious content and misrepresentation that seeks to disturb peace, sow discord, or glorify acts of terror under misleading narratives.