India Blocks Pakistani Leadership, Media, and Sports Accounts in Escalating Digital Crackdown
Islamabad – India has blocked the official social media accounts of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a sweeping digital clampdown amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
Key Developments
1. Social Media Censorship
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PM Shehbaz Sharif’s accounts and the ISPR’s official handles were restricted in India, with YouTube also blocking the premier’s official channel.
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The ISPR had posted videos alleging Indian involvement in “false flag operations,” which reportedly went viral in India before being taken down.
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A Pakistani media advisor condemned the move as “political targeting of a sovereign leader.”
2. Sports and Entertainment Blackout
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Lahore Qalandars, a popular Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, reported that its Facebook and Instagram pages were blocked in India without explanation.
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Earlier, India suspended PSL live streaming on Fancode and removed match highlights.
3. Media Blacklist
India has restricted access to 16 major Pakistani YouTube channels, including:
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Geo News (18.1M subs)
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ARY News (14.6M subs)
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Express News (4.8M subs)
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Samaa TV (12.7M subs)
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Shoaib Akhtar’s channel (3.81M subs)
Pakistan’s Foreign Office may raise the issue with international rights bodies, calling India’s actions a violation of free speech norms.
Diplomatic Fallout from Pahalgam Attack
The digital crackdown follows a sharp deterioration in ties after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists.
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India blamed Pakistan without evidence, leading Islamabad to deny involvement and demand a joint probe.
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Retaliatory measures included:
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India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting the Wagah-Attari border, and revoking visas.
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Pakistan expelling Indian diplomats, closing its side of the border, and warning that water blockades would be “an act of war.”
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London Embassy Vandalism:
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Pakistan’s High Commission in London was attacked by protesters, with windows smashed and saffron paint thrown.
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Islamabad accused Indian agencies of backing the violence; UK police arrested two suspects.
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A Multi-Front Standoff
The digital blockade marks a new front in the India-Pakistan tensions, extending beyond diplomacy into media, sports, and online spaces. With both nations exchanging accusations and punitive measures, the risk of further escalation remains high.
“India’s censorship reflects its insecurity,” a Pakistani official stated, while Islamabad weighs international legal action over the social media bans. As the standoff deepens, the world watches whether the digital divide will further fuel real-world hostilities.
