NATIONAL: India Blocks Pakistani Social Media Accounts Amid Tensions
📰 Crackdown on Pakistani Influencers
India has restricted access to Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar. Indian users encounter a message stating, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
🔗 Link to Pahalgam Attack
The restrictions likely stem from the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. While no official statement confirms the connection, the timing suggests a response to heightened India-Pakistan tensions.
📺 YouTube Channels Targeted
Earlier in April, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major outlets like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, as well as Shoaib Akhtar’s channel. These were blocked for allegedly spreading provocative content and misinformation against India.
🚫 Government’s Rationale
The Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the YouTube bans, citing national security and public order concerns. Indian users now see a message referencing government orders and directing them to Google’s Transparency Report for details.
🐦 Pakistan’s Twitter Account Withheld
The Indian government also withheld the official Twitter account of Pakistan’s government (@GovtofPakistan). A message states, “Account Withheld, @GovtofPakistan has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand,” reflecting broader diplomatic measures.
🛑 Broader Retaliatory Measures
Post-Pahalgam, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari border, and revoked visas for Pakistani nationals. These actions underscore a strategic response to alleged cross-border terrorism.
🔍 National Security Focus
The bans align with India’s efforts to curb misinformation and communally sensitive content. The government accused the blocked YouTube channels of targeting India’s military and security agencies with false narratives.
🌐 Social Media’s Role
Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter are now battlegrounds for geopolitical tensions. The restrictions highlight India’s use of legal mechanisms to control online narratives.
🗣️ Public and Political Reactions
Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some Indian users celebrating the bans as a “win,” while others in Pakistan call it censorship. The moves have sparked debates over freedom of expression.
📡 Ongoing Investigations
The National Investigation Agency is probing the Pahalgam attack, attributed to the Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate. The bans may be part of efforts to disrupt terror-related propaganda networks.