SOURCE: AFI
In the wake of heightened tensions following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 26 tourists and was linked to Pakistan-backed militants, India has intensified its efforts to curb the influence of Pakistani YouTube channels within its borders. Social media posts on X, notably by @kushal_mehra
on April 26 and 28, 2025, indicate that several Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of Syed Muzammil, Aarzoo Kazmi, and Wassey Iffy, are facing bans in India, with users encountering screenshots signaling restricted access.
While many channels remain accessible, the Indian government’s actions suggest a broader campaign to block content deemed anti-India or propagandistic, driven by concerns over disinformation and national security. This escalation, part of India’s multifaceted response to Pakistan’s alleged terrorism sponsorship, marks a new front in the information warfare between the two nations, with significant implications for digital diplomacy and regional dynamics.
The Pahalgam attack, attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), prompted India to adopt aggressive diplomatic and economic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Wagah-Attari border, and expelling Pakistani diplomats. Amid this fallout, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has renewed its focus on curbing Pakistani digital content, particularly YouTube channels that attract significant Indian viewership. Posts on X, such as those by @KhabriBossLady on April 25 and 27, 2025, urge the MIB to impose IP-based bans on Pakistani channels, arguing that Indian views generate revenue for creators who may propagate anti-India narratives.
India’s crackdown builds on a history of blocking Pakistani YouTube channels. Between 2021 and 2022, the MIB banned 64 YouTube channels, including 11 from Pakistan, for spreading “fake news” and “anti-India propaganda,” with a cumulative viewership of over 258 crores and 172 lakh subscribers, according to OpIndia and India Today. Channels like The Punch Line, Naya Pakistan Global, and Khalsa TV were targeted for content on Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Armed Forces, and foreign relations, deemed threats to internal security. The current wave, targeting prominent creators like Syed Muzammil, Aarzoo Kazmi, and Wassey Iffy, reflects a continuation of this policy, amplified by the post-Pahalgam outrage.
These channels, while not explicitly named in past MIB bans, fit the profile of those previously targeted for “coordinated disinformation operations,” as described in a 2021 PIB release. Their accessibility in India, until recently, highlights the challenge of enforcing comprehensive bans, especially for Dubai-registered accounts, as noted by kushal mehra.
The Indian government’s rationale for banning Pakistani YouTube channels rests on two pillars: national security and economic pressure. The MIB, utilizing emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, argues that such channels spread disinformation on sensitive issues like Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Armed Forces, and foreign relations, potentially inciting unrest. The 2021 ban of 20 channels, including Naya Pakistan Global, was linked to a “Pakistan-orchestrated” campaign, with content designed to undermine India’s sovereignty, according to OpIndia. The post-Pahalgam context, with India blaming Pakistan for terrorism, amplifies these concerns, as evidenced by briefings to 100 diplomatic missions in New Delhi.
Economically, banning these channels aims to cut off revenue streams for Pakistani creators, many of whom rely on Indian viewership. X user @KhabriBossLady emphasized that Indian views translate into ad revenue, indirectly funding content that may oppose India’s interests. With India’s $3.7 trillion market and 700 million YouTube users, its viewership is a significant revenue driver for Pakistani creators, unlike Pakistan’s smaller digital market. By enforcing IP-based bans, India seeks to weaken these creators financially, aligning with broader measures like trade suspension and border closures post-Pahalgam.
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