In the wake of the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, the Indian government has temporarily pulled the plug on YouTube channels of former Pakistani cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali.
They are among 18 Pakistani YouTube channels taken down from the platform in India for uploading inflammatory, communally sensitive content and perpetuating fake news against India, its Army, and security forces.
The action was taken following recommendations by the Ministry of Home Affairs following the Pahalgam tragedy. When Indian users attempt to watch these channels now, a message appears saying, "This content is not available in this country at the moment due to a government order related to public order or national security."
As a result, Akhtar's content is no longer available to Indian audiences. Akhtar, arguably one of the most outspoken figures in Pakistani cricket, had developed a significant following through his YouTube channel.
Some of the prominent channels banned alongside Geo are Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, ARY NEWS, BOL NEWS, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, SUNO News HD, and Razi Naama.
Following the terror attack, India stepped up its diplomatic efforts, summoning Pakistan's senior-most diplomat in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and issuing a formal Persona Non Grata to all Pakistani military attaches.
These steps are part of a larger set of retaliatory measures taken by India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a "cowardly attack on innocent civilians."
The assault, carried out by The Resistance Front — a Pakistani terror group — has gravely heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
In response, acting fast, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) under Prime Minister Modi issued a list of tough actions. These are key actions among them: putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, closing down the Attari-Wagah border, calling off the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, declaring the Pakistani military personnel in New Delhi persona non grata, and trimming diplomatic staff at both countries' High Commissions.
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