India has blocked more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels in response to their coverage of the recent Pahalgam attack, which allegedly exposed inconsistencies in the Indian government’s narrative surrounding the event. The affected channels had reported on the attack, shedding light on the incident in a manner that Indian authorities deemed to be “misleading and provocative.”
The banned channels included major Pakistani news outlets such as Geo News, ARY News, and Samaa TV, as well as independent platforms and thematic channels. These channels collectively had a subscriber base of over 66 million, making the block a significant move in the ongoing media tensions between the two countries.
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Indian authorities accused the Pakistani channels of spreading content that was critical of the Indian government and military. However, they did not specify particular examples of what they considered misleading. The decision has sparked debate over freedom of speech and the control of media narratives, particularly regarding sensitive issues like cross-border incidents.
Among the blocked channels are some of Pakistan’s most popular news and independent journalist platforms. Geo News had 18.1 million subscribers, followed by ARY News with 14.6 million. Other channels affected include Bol News, Dawn News TV, and ShoaibAkhtar100mph. The move reflects ongoing media censorship efforts by India, particularly concerning coverage that challenges its official stance on regional issues.
