X unbanned in Pakistan as India censors Pakistani accounts

After more than a year of being blocked, X (previously Twitter) is now accessible once again in Pakistan without a VPN, while India blocks almost all famous Pakistani accounts in the country. The platform started working normally last night, shortly after Indian airstrikes hit several areas across the country in the early hours of Wednesday.

The recent rise in tensions between India and Pakistan came after missile attacks hit areas like  Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Muridke, Sialkot and Kotli. In response, Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian strikes killed 26 people and injured 46 others. The attacks targeted civilian areas and religious places, including mosques, causing heavy losses.

Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC) has now given the country's military full permission to respond to the Indian strikes. In a statement issued earlier today, the government strongly said, "In consonance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty."

X was first restricted in February 2024, but for a long time, the government didn't officially confirm the ban. Most users had to rely on VPNs to access the app. In March 2024, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) admitted in court that the ban was in place following an order from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Later, in April 2024, the Ministry of Interior told the Islamabad High Court that X was blocked due to "national security concerns" and misuse of the platform during sensitive national events.

Now, after more than a year, X is working again, but there is no official announcement from the government yet. Still, users across the country are able to use it without VPNs, and the app is functioning normally.

Although it's unclear if the removal of the ban is permanent, for now, Twitter is accessible, and Pakistani users are back online.