India bans 16 Pakistani Youtube channels as tensions heighten over Kashmir
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India has placed a ban on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels as tensions between the South Asian neighbors escalate following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Last week's attack occurred in Pahalgam, a scenic tourist spot in Kashmir, killing at least 26 people. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad strongly denies.
Quoting government sources, ANI reported that on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indian government banned several Pakistani YouTube channels for "disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content."
The channels were also accused of spreading misinformation about India, its army, and security agencies.
The list includes prominent mainstream media names such as Dawn News, SAMAA TV, ARY News, BOL News, and Geo News, among others.
SAMAA Sports, GNN Suno Newz and Raftar are also on the list.
Raftar confirms it has been removed from Youtube IndiaSource: X
Other banned YouTube channels include those run by independent journalists and commentators such as Irshad Bhatti, The Pakistan Reference, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Mujeeb Farooq and Razi Naama.
According to ANI, a formal notice was also issued to BBC India, objecting to their coverage of the attack, particularly the terminology used to describe the attackers.
This move comes at a time of heightened diplomatic and military tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a region both countries claim in full but control in parts.
The nuclear-armed nations have unleashed a raft of measures against each other, with India putting the critical Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan cancelled most Indian SAARC visas, declared Indian defense advisers persona non grata and ordered the Indian High Commission to cut staff to 30.
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