India suspends 16 Pakistani YouTube channels

Sixteen Pakistani YouTube channels, including Geo News, Dawn News and The Pakistan Experience, have been blocked in India for allegedly spreading provocative and communally sensitive content following the attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir.

Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Suno News HD, GNN, Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Muneeb Farooq Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket and Razi Naama have also been blocked in India.

The combined subscribers of these 16 YouTube channels amount to 63.08 million, with Geo News having the highest number at 18.1 million subscribers.

Indian media quoted sources in the government as reporting that the now-banned YouTube channels have been allegedly spreading a false narrative against India and its security agencies.

Indians within their country trying to access the channels are being greeted by the following 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 move comes as Pakistan and India face off in the wake of the attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) last week in which 26 people, including a Nepalese national, were killed.

The Narendra Modi-led government has also warned the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) over a headline that read: “Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack on tourists”, alleging that the headline made it appear as if India killed the tourists.

Indian media further quoted sources as claiming that the External Publicity Department of the Ministry of External Affairs has said the country's “strong sentiments” have been conveyed to the India Head for BBC Jackie Martin, regarding their reporting on the Pahalgam attack.

A formal letter to the BBC framing “terrorists” as “militants” has also been sent. The government will monitor BBC’s reporting, Indian media reported, while quoting sources. 

Following the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which lies on the route of a Hindu pilgrimage to a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, the annual Amarnath Yatra, making it one of the most heavily protected regions of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir, India had made several decision regarding unilaterally suspending the long standing Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

In retaliation, Pakistan,  among other measures, closed its airspace for Indian airlines and declared the military, air force and navy advisers at the Indian High Commission as persona non grata, ordering them to leave the country immediately but not later than April 30.