Overview

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory under the IT Rules 2021, mandating the removal of Pakistani-origin web series, films, music, and podcasts from Indian OTT platforms.
• The directive, effective immediately, was prompted by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor targeting terror sites in Pakistan.
• Indian users now face restrictions on accessing accounts of Pakistani celebrities on platforms like Instagram, with content blocked due to legal requests.
• Pakistan has responded by blocking Indian YouTube channels and websites, escalating the digital standoff between the two nations.
• This move marks a continuation of cultural restrictions between India and Pakistan, echoing similar measures taken after the 2016 Uri attack.