New Delhi: The Indian government has intensified its digital crackdown on Pakistani content by blocking access to the YouTube channel of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for users in India. This move, reported by Kashmir Media Service, is part of a broader effort by the BJP-led government to restrict Pakistani media following the alleged April 22 Pahalgam false flag operation.

Indian users attempting to visit PM Sharif’s YouTube channel are now greeted with a message stating that the content is unavailable due to a government order citing national security or public order concerns.

This action marks the most prominent instance of content blocking since similar measures were taken against the channels of Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has utilized emergency provisions under the Information Technology Act to instruct social media platforms to geo-restrict several Pakistani accounts accused of disseminating anti-India narratives.

The crackdown has also extended to high-profile Pakistani cricketers, whose social media accounts have significant Indian followings. Instagram and YouTube accounts of current and former players have been restricted for Indian users.

The restrictions are not limited to political and sporting figures. On April 30, Instagram profiles of Pakistani actresses Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir were blocked for Indian users. Other celebrities, including Ali Zafar and Fawad Khan, have faced similar actions recently.

Previously, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, as part of its ongoing digital restrictions on Pakistani media content.