Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel has been banned in India following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir.
Akhtar is among 17 Pakistani YouTube channels blocked by the Indian government for allegedly sharing provocative, communally sensitive content, and spreading false and misleading narratives against India, its Army, and security agencies.
The Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the action in the wake of the attack, leading to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issuing orders for the bans.
When searching for Akhtar’s channel on YouTube in India, users are greeted with the message: "This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order."
Known for his outspoken views and massive following, Akhtar had built a significant audience from India on his YouTube platform, which is now inaccessible within the country.
Among the other banned channels are prominent Pakistani news outlets and personalities, including Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, ARY News, BOL News, Geo News, and figures like Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq, among others.
The bans form part of a wider set of retaliatory measures taken by India after the deadly attack. New Delhi summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat, Saad Ahmad Warraich, delivering a Persona Non Grata notice for all Pakistani military attachés.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the assault a "cowardly attack on innocent civilians", prompting the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to announce several strong responses. These include:
• Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
• Closure of the Attari-Wagah border
• Cancellation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals
• Expulsion of Pakistani military attachés from New Delhi
• Reduction of diplomatic staff at both countries' High Commissions
The Pahalgam attack, attributed to the Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front, has sharply escalated tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
