India has launched a sweeping digital crackdown, as India blocks Pakistani digital content in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The move, framed as a national security measure, signals a significant shift in India’s information warfare tacticswhere narratives and visibility now matter as much as borders.
What began as a restriction on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s YouTube channel has escalated into a digital purge affecting influencers, cricketers, celebrities, and even Olympic athletes. Indian users now see a blank wall of “Content unavailable due to national security” messages across platforms, reflecting a new, coordinated censorship model targeting cross-border influence.
Not Only Politicians but India Blocks Pakistani Digital Content, Including Cricketers
This time, it’s not just politicians under the lens. Instagram accounts of star cricketers Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf have vanished from Indian feeds. YouTube channels of cricket legends Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, and Basit Ali are also geo-restricted.
It doesn’t end there. Fans of Pakistani entertainment have noticed the sudden disappearance of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan, and Ali Zafar’s profiles. Even javelin silver medalist Arshad Nadeem found his Instagram presence blocked in India. The ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been dropped from Indian airwaves, with broadcasters Sony Sports Network and FanCode pulling coverage post-attack.
According to officials, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting exercised emergency powers under the IT Act to “neutralize disinformation channels and digital threats.” India blocks Pakistani digital content not just for censorship’s sake, but as part of what insiders call “counter-digital diplomacy.”
India Eyes Global Financial Pressure on Pakistan
Beyond social platforms, New Delhi is now pushing multilateral agencies, especially the IMF, to reassess Pakistan’s financial support. After securing a $7 billion bailout and an additional $1.3 billion climate loan, Islamabad may now find its funding pipelines under closer scrutiny.
As India blocks Pakistani digital content across sectors, it sends a clear message: influence comes at a cost, and digital visibility is no longer guaranteed, even in the virtual world.
