India has blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for broadcasting provocative and communally sensitive content in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindus and all men, on April 22.
The Government of India on Monday banned the YouTube channels, including those of Dawn, ARY News, Geo News, and Pakistani journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq.
As per reports, these YouTube channels were spreading false information and provocative content related to India.
On visiting these channels on YouTube, the users will be shown a note that reads, “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.”
India Warns BBC
After BBC India termed the Pahalgam terrorists as “militants” in one of its reports, the Indian government, through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), reportedly contacted BBC India head Jackie Martin to express strong objections.
Similar concerns have also been raised with the American news agency Associated Press (AP) and the UK-based Reuters, according to reports.
The MEA stated that it will continue to monitor media coverage and will bring to attention any reporting it believes misrepresents the gravity of the situation or contains factual inaccuracies.
Meanwhile, several Pakistani websites have been attempting to deceive Indians by falsely claiming to collect donations for war efforts.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with support from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has blocked several such URLs over the past four days.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam witnessed one of the deadliest attacks in recent times when terrorists gunned down 26 men, mostly non-Muslim tourists, as they were spending time in the picturesque Baisaran meadow.
Survivors said the gunmen asked some victims about their religion and demanded they recite Islamic verses. Those who failed or hesitated were shot in the head.
Security officials said at least five terrorists split into smaller groups and attacked three zones in the meadow.
Lasting under ten minutes, the assault left 26 dead, including 25 tourists and a local pony operator.
An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, an Indian Navy Lieutenant, and an Indian Air Force (IAF) corporal — all were on vacation with their families — were among the deceased.
The role of a terror group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba has emerged in the terror incident.
Police have released sketches of three terrorists who are suspected of being involved in the attack.
They have been identified as Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, who are residents of Pakistan.
The other terrorist has been identified as Anantnag native Adil Hussain Thoker.
The attack has further deteriorated ties between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.
India’s Strong Response To Pakistan
The Modi government has taken tit-for-tat diplomatic steps against Pakistan, suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border with an immediate effect, cancelling Pakistani visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, asking the Pakistani advisors to leave India within a week and reducing the overall strength of High Commissions to 30 from the existing 55 effective from May 1, 2025.
Promising a strong retaliation against Pakistan over one of the worst terror attacks that took place in the popular tourist spot in peak season of tourism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the terrorists and their backers will pay unimaginable costs for the attack on innocent tourists.
Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani, Modi said: “From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”
“Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done,” he said, adding that the entire country is grieving the merciless killings.
(With inputs from IBNS)
