Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 4: The Indian government on Sunday blocked the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), citing dissemination of anti-India content and provocative messaging amid escalating bilateral tensions.
This action follows a series of similar digital crackdowns, including the earlier blocking of the official X handles of the Government of Pakistan, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who recently made unverified claims about alleged Indian military intentions.
The move comes in the aftermath of a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead and several injured. The assault, blamed on the Pakistan-based terror outfit The Resistance Front, has significantly worsened diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In response, India has launched a sweeping digital offensive, banning 16 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of spreading disinformation and inciting communal disharmony. Channels such as Dawn News, Geo News, ARY NEWS, BOL NEWS, and Asma Shirazi were among those blocked for allegedly circulating content that threatens India’s national security and public order.
An official government statement noted that the banned platforms had garnered millions of views, and their content aimed to mislead the public, provoke unrest, and sow communal discord.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has taken aggressive diplomatic steps, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the Pahalgam incident a “cowardly attack on innocent civilians.” In its aftermath, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has rolled out a series of retaliatory measures:
• Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
• Closure of the Attari-Wagah border
• Cancellation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals
• Expulsion of Pakistan’s military attachés from New Delhi
• Reduction of diplomatic staff at both Indian and Pakistani high commissions
These steps mark a sharp escalation in India’s stance against cross-border terrorism and signal a no-tolerance approach to hostile propaganda and violent provocations.