Overview
- India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for disseminating communally sensitive misinformation following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
- The blocked platforms include prominent outlets like Geo News, Dawn, and ARY News, as well as channels run by notable journalists and commentators such as Muneeb Farooq and Asma Shirazi.
- The channels, with a combined 63 million subscribers, were accused of targeting India, its Army, and security agencies with provocative and misleading content.
- The ban is part of a broader response to the attack, which also includes suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and revoking Pakistani visas.
- India has also sent a formal letter to the BBC, objecting to its use of the term 'militants' instead of 'terrorists' in its reporting on the Pahalgam attack.