India Bans 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels After Pahalgam Attack

India Takes Action After Deadly Terror Attack

Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in India last week, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, the Indian government has taken a strong stance against Pakistan. They have banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including some belonging to well-known cricket figures like Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Rashid Latif.

Now, when you try to access these channels in India, you’ll see a message stating that the content is unavailable due to a government order related to national security or public order. You can learn more about government removal requests on the Google Transparency Report.

Why Were the Channels Banned?

The government alleges that these channels were spreading provocative and potentially harmful content. They claim the channels were disseminating false information and narratives against India, its army, and security agencies in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.

A senior government official explained, “On the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India has banned the 16 Pakistani YouTube channels… for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies in the backdrop of the tragic Pahalgam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Who Else Was Affected?

Besides the cricket personalities, former Pakistan bowler Tanveer Ahmed’s channel was also banned. As of now, none of these individuals have publicly commented on the ban, and it’s unclear if the channels will be reinstated.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting blocked a total of 16 channels, which collectively had over 63 million subscribers. This includes both news agencies and individual creators.

A Wider Context

This ban is part of a larger series of non-military actions India has taken against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. The situation remains tense between the two countries.