India has blocked the YouTube channel for Pakistan New Express, intensifying its current media restrictions following the cover of Pahalgam incidents.
Earlier Monday, Indian authorities had already limited access to several major Pakistani YouTube channels – including information channels and individual journalists.
The sites were blocked in India, with a message that read it was due to an “government order linked to national security or public order”.
However, the Express News YouTube channel was blocked separately on Tuesday, making it the last addition to the list of blocks.
Critics claim that this decision reflects growing intolerance to independent relationships in India, despite its claims to be the greatest democracy in the world.
Access to prohibited channels, including Express News, remains possible for Indian viewers via VPN services.
Pahalgam attack and diplomatic consequences
The prohibition follows the fatal shooting of April 22 which targeted tourists in Pahalgam in Indian, Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), illegally occupied the Indians. Twenty-six men were killed in the attack, the worst civilians in the contested region for a quarter of a century.
Immediately after the attack, India blamed Pakistan. Islamabad denied any role in the attack while calling for an independent Incident investigation.
Meanwhile, the BBC coverage of the Kashmir terrorist attack last week was also criticized by the Indian government, which officially wrote to its head of operations, the situation in RT.
