India has suspended the X (formerly Twitter) account of Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, after his incendiary comment on a possible military invasion by India. The comment was made in the aftermath of the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 dead. Khawaja Asif had claimed that an Indian military strike was “imminent,” escalating tensions between the two nations.
Government Moves to Limit Inciting Content
Apart from suspending Asif’s account, the Indian government also suspended 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading “false, provocative, and communally sensitive content.” The channels, which include prominent Pakistani news channels such as Dawn News, ARY News, and SAMAA TV, have been accused of spreading false narratives about India, especially regarding the Pahalgam terror attack. The channels were accused of spreading misinformation against India’s army and security agencies, officials said.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs advised the action based on concerns about the damage caused by such content. The blocked channels also feature BOL News, Geo News, and several others engaged in disseminating injurious narratives.
India Condemns BBC’s Reporting of Pahalgam Attack
The Indian government also strongly objected to the BBC’s coverage of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. India protested against the BBC’s description of the terrorists as “militants,” which India said was a misnomer. In a letter to the head of BBC India, Jackie Martin, the Indian government underscored that “militants” was not an appropriate and correct term to use.
The BBC was also questioned for a news report claiming that Pakistan suspended Indian visas after the attack. India reported the report as objectionable, and the Ministry of External Affairs has written a formal letter to the BBC to seek a resolution of the issue. The MEA will also keep an eye on BBC’s future reporting on the issue.
Action Against Misleading Messages
In another action, the Indian government has suspended a viral WhatsApp message that was reportedly misrepresenting a campaign to modernize the Indian Army. The message purported that one rupee a day would contribute towards supporting wounded soldiers and martyrs in war zones. The officials termed the message as misleading and contrary to the government’s policy.
