India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels with a collective audience of over 63 million subscribers for disseminating provocative, communally sensitive, and misleading content, government officials have confirmed on Monday.&nbsp;
The ban was enacted following recommendations made by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Among the channels prohibited are major news outlets including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Geo News, and Suno News, along with Raftar and The Pakistan Reference. Additionally, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama have been restricted. YouTube accounts belonging to journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq have also been affected by the action.
According to an official statement, the banned platforms were responsible for spreading disinformation that posed risks to India&rsquo;s national security, foreign relations, and public order.&nbsp;
It was further stated that the content shared sought to provoke communal disharmony and instil panic by circulating falsehoods concerning the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir, and India&rsquo;s diplomatic stance following the terror incident in Pahalgam.
In the terror attack, 25 tourists and one Kashmiri civilian were shot dead by militants, escalating already tense relations between India and Pakistan. The Resistance Front, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, has been identified as the group behind the assault.
When attempting to access the blocked channels, users encounter the message: "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 (transparencyreport.google.com)."
The ban on these YouTube channels forms part of a broader set of retaliatory measures undertaken by India. Following the Pahalgam attack, India withheld access to the official X handle of the Government of Pakistan.&nbsp;
Additionally, New Delhi summoned Pakistan&rsquo;s top diplomat, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and issued a formal Persona Non Grata note concerning all Pakistani military attach&eacute;s.
Further measures announced by the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, include the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of the Attari-Wagah border, the cancellation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, and the expulsion of Pakistan&rsquo;s military personnel from India, along with a reduction in diplomatic staff at both High Commissions.
Prime Minister Modi, in a public statement, vowed that the perpetrators and those responsible for the attack would face consequences "they cannot even imagine."&nbsp;
He said, "From Kargil to Kanyakumari, there is grief and rage. This attack was not just on innocent tourists; the country's enemies have shown the audacity to attack India's soul." He further asserted, "The time has come to raze whatever is left of the terror haven. The will of 140 crores will break the back of the masters of terror."
In a related development, the government of India has taken exception to a BBC headline that read, "Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack on tourists." Many social media users criticized the headline for giving the impression that India was responsible for the killings.&nbsp;
Sources stated that the External Publicity Department of the Ministry of External Affairs conveyed the country&rsquo;s "strong sentiments" to Jackie Martin, India Head for BBC. A formal letter objecting to the BBC's reference to terrorists as militants was also dispatched, and the government has indicated it will continue monitoring the BBC's coverage closely.
(With inputs from IANS)
<a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb34ERXCnA7lrMp57S3N" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow the Benefit News channel on WhatsApp</a>
&nbsp;

India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels over Pahalgam attack fallout, citing national security concerns

India Bans 16 Pakistani YT Channels

India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels over Pahalgam attack fallout, citing national security concerns

April 28, 2025 | 11:39 IST