The Government of India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for "disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content", as well as spreading "false narratives and misinformation targeting India, its Army, and security agencies", in the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, reports The Hindu.
The banned channels include prominent Pakistani news outlets such as Dawn News, ARY News, and Geo News.
In addition to the bans, the Indian government conveyed strong objections to Jackie Martin, the India head of the BBC, regarding the broadcaster’s reporting of the Pahalgam attack.
A government official stated that a formal letter had been sent to the BBC, taking issue with its description of "terrorists" as "militants".
Indian authorities are reportedly keeping a close watch on the BBC’s ongoing coverage of the incident.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Saturday (26 April) issued an advisory to all media outlets across India, urging them to refrain from the live coverage of defence operations or the movement of security forces.
The advisory, issued amid reports of forthcoming major anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically warned against real-time reporting, dissemination of visuals, and the use of ‘source-based’ information relating to defence activities or troop movements.
