India blocks all Pakistani X handles; ban on YouTube channels continues

New Delhi: All Pakistani accounts on X have been blocked in India after being briefly accessible over the past few days, official sources confirmed on Thursday.

The development is part of India’s broader digital and diplomatic response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed by terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba's proxy, The Resistance Front.

Following the attack, India initiated a series of retaliatory actions, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty and launching Operation Sindoor to target nine terror launch pads inside Pakistan.

Among these responses was a sweeping crackdown on Pakistani media and social media content—covering platforms such as Instagram, X, YouTube, and others—including accounts of actors, cricketers, and influencers.

Although several accounts briefly became accessible again, raising questions and criticism over their restoration, they are now once again restricted.

When Indian users attempt to view these profiles, a message appears stating, "Account Withheld. (Name of the account) has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand."

On Wednesday, users in India were briefly able to access X and Instagram accounts belonging to Pakistani celebrities and internet personalities, including Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor, along with YouTube channels operated by former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar.

However, the accounts of Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Hania Aamir remained inaccessible throughout.

The YouTube ban also continues to be in effect, according to sources.

Back in May, the Indian government issued an advisory instructing all OTT platforms and digital intermediaries to cease streaming or distributing content originating from Pakistan.

The advisory, dated May 8, 2025, and issued under the IT Rules, 2021, stated that "content hosted or streamed must not threaten India's sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order."

It clearly instructed media platforms to remove "web series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming content" produced in Pakistan, whether offered on subscription-based or free platforms.

In the wake of the temporary restoration of several Pakistani accounts, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for a complete blackout of all Pakistani social media presence in India.

The association described the visibility of these accounts as an "insult to the sacrifice of our martyred soldiers" and an "emotional assault" on Indians who have lost loved ones to terror attacks orchestrated by Pakistan.

Referring to major terror attacks such as 26/11, Pulwama, Uri, and the recent Pahalgam incident, AICWA branded Pakistan a "terrorist nation" and criticised Pakistani artists who, according to them, have "shamelessly spoken against India instead of showing remorse."

In their appeal, AICWA presented three key demands—a complete digital blackout of all Pakistani accounts and media channels in India; a ban on any future collaborations or promotions involving Pakistani nationals; and a lasting cultural disconnect from Pakistan as a mark of respect to the Indian Armed Forces and the families of martyrs.

(inputs from IANS)