Govt bans 16 Pakistani media YouTube channels including Dawn, GeoTV and Samaa TV

The government banned 16 YouTube channels of Pakistan, including that of several media houses such as Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Razi Naama, GNN and Irshad Bhatti.

They were banned on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs “for spreading communally sensitive content and misinformation against India," sources said on Monday, April 28.

Government sources said, “On the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India has banned the 16 Pakistani YouTube channels including Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, Geo News for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies in the backdrop of the tragic Pahalgam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir."

Full list of banned YouTube channels

The decision was taken in the aftermath of the terror attack in which at least 26 people were killed at a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Since the terror attack, India has taken a slew of measures against Pakistan over its support to terrorism. Earlier, India blocked the X account of the Government of Pakistan.

Why does ban on Pakistani YouTube channels matter?

It matters since Pakistani serials earlier streamed on several YouTube channels in India, including Geo TV, Samaa TV and ARY. With the government ban, the serials will now stop streaming in India.

Pahlagam terror attack

The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22. The attack, carried out by terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday, is one of the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

Following the attack, India took strong countermeasures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.

India announced a series of steps to give a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, stating that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance and the integrated checkpost at Attari will be closed with immediate effect.

Pakistan responded by warning India that it could suspend the Simla Agreement, a significant peace treaty signed after the 1971 India-Pakistan war that ended in Bangladesh splitting from Pakistan.

Pakistan also announced airspace restrictions for all Indian airlines. Several airlines, including SpiceJet, Air India, and IndiGo, have issued travel advisories for their passengers. The country also decided to close the Attari-Wagah border.