India Blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels

In April 2025, the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, citing concerns over national security and the dissemination of disinformation. This action, taken on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, reflects the escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack.

Channels Affected

The blocked channels encompass a range of content creators, including established media organizations, freelance journalists, and sports personalities. Notable among them are:

Dawn News
Samaa TV
ARY News
Geo News
Bol News
SUNO News HD
Raftar
GNN
Irshad Bhatti
The Pakistan Reference
Samaa Sports
Uzair Cricket
Umar Cheema Exclusive
Asma Shirazi
Muneeb Farooq
Raazi NamaDawn+1NEWS ON AIR – Home –+1Wikipedia+16The Economic Times+16The Guardian+16

Additionally, the channel of former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar and the podcast channel ‘The Pakistan Experience’ by comedian Shehzad Ghias were also reported to be inaccessible in India.

Legal Framework and Rationale

The Indian government has not specified the exact legal provisions under which these channels were blocked. However, users attempting to access these channels from India are met with a message stating that they have been blocked due to an “order from the government related to national security or public order.”

Broader Context

The blocking of these channels comes in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, where militants killed 25 Hindu tourists and one local guide in Kashmir. The Indian government has attributed the attack to Pakistan-based groups, leading to heightened tensions between the two countries. In response, India has taken several measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing major border crossings.

Advisory from NCERT

In a related development, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (N-CERT) issued an advisory warning media and content creators against sharing sensitive national security information. The advisory highlighted the risks associated with the circulation of videos, images, and commentary revealing troop movements, military deployments, and other sensitive activities. It cautioned that such disclosures could compromise national security and operational effectiveness.