In a strong move to protect national security and public trust, the Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for circulating provocative, misleading, and communal content. This decision, announced after a detailed investigation by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, came following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives.
The government acted under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, targeting channels that allegedly attempted to fuel unrest and spread false narratives about India’s internal affairs.
List of Banned Pakistani YouTube Channels:
- Dawn News
- Samaa TV
- ARY News
- Geo News
- Bol News
- GNN
- Suno News HD
- Raftar
- The Pakistan Reference
- Samaa Sports
- Uzair Cricket
- Razi Naama
- Irshad Bhatti
- Umar Cheema Exclusive
- Asma Shirazi
- Muneeb Farooq
Collectively, these 16 channels had a combined subscriber base exceeding 63 million. According to officials, their videos often misrepresented facts about Kashmir, India’s security operations, and communal events, posing a direct risk to national integrity and peace.
The banned content included inflammatory headlines, doctored visuals, and exaggerated reports designed to incite tensions within India. Most channels also failed to comply with India’s disclosure requirements under Rule 18 of the IT Rules.
BBC Also Under Scrutiny
In a parallel move, the Indian government has issued a formal warning to the BBC regarding its coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack. Authorities criticized the BBC for using “militant” terminology instead of “terrorist,” deeming it insensitive and inappropriate given the gravity of the incident.
Although no immediate action was taken against the BBC’s broadcasts, Indian officials have clearly conveyed that further missteps could lead to more stringent measures. The Ministry of External Affairs is now monitoring the outlet’s reporting closely to ensure responsible journalism practices are maintained.
A Wider Crackdown on Misinformation
This latest action reflects India’s broader strategy to safeguard its digital space from foreign misinformation networks and hate propaganda. Over the past few years, India has steadily tightened regulations to ensure online platforms do not become vehicles for creating divisions or undermining national security.
The Ministry emphasized that while freedom of expression is fundamental, it cannot be allowed to become a tool for spreading lies and disturbing public peace.
The banned Pakistani YouTube channels are no longer accessible within India, and visitors attempting to access them are now met with a message stating that the content is blocked in accordance with a legal demand related to national security concerns.
