Tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, and now even YouTube isn’t being spared. The official channels of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former PM Imran Khan have been blocked on YouTube in India, just days after several Pakistani media and influencer channels faced the same fate.
According to emails sent by YouTube, the ban was enforced due to a directive from the Indian government, citing concerns about “national security or public order.” Any future uploads from these channels will also be restricted for Indian viewers.
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The move comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir. Although India has hinted at a cross-border connection, it has yet to provide solid proof, while Pakistan has strongly denied involvement and demanded a neutral investigation.
The bans are being viewed by many as an effort to silence alternative viewpoints on the incident and its broader implications.
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Earlier, India had already banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels—including those of major media outlets like Dawn News, Geo News, ARY News, and Samaa News—on the recommendation of its Ministry of Home Affairs.
Popular Pakistani journalists such as Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq also saw their channels blocked, along with the podcast The Pakistan Experience.
The clampdown hasn’t stopped there. Instagram accounts of well-known Pakistani celebrities like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Iqra Aziz are no longer accessible in India either. Users attempting to view their profiles are met with a message saying the accounts have been restricted following a legal request.
