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KARACHI: As diplomatic tensions surge between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has withheld access to the X (formerly Twitter) account of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. It has also blocked the account of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Indian users attempting to visit the X profiles of both leaders are met with a message stating their accounts were withheld “in response to a legal demand.”
This action, reported across Indian media outlets on Sunday, marks the latest in a string of digital clampdowns targeting Pakistani figures and media platforms.
The move follows a series of stringent steps taken by India in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The assault, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, triggered widespread condemnation and prompted India to initiate retaliatory measures on multiple fronts, including cyberspace, diplomacy, and trade.
PPP Condemns “Retaliation”
Reacting strongly to blocking its chairman’s account, the PPP described the move as “retaliation for Mr Bhutto-Zardari’s ‘unequivocal and bold stance on the Pahalgam incident’,” which he had voiced internationally.
A statement issued by the Bilawal House media cell claimed that “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was afraid of Mr Bhutto-Zardari,” further alleging that “India is an undemocratic country and its prime minister is an extremely cowardly person.”
The PPP also noted that Mr. Bhutto-Zardari had unsettled New Delhi through his firm criticism. The spokesperson asserted that the PPP chairman had been the first to expose the “Butcher of Gujarat” on the global stage and pledged to continue confronting Modi’s “war-mongering mindset.”
Bhutto-Zardari had earlier issued a provocative warning in light of India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring, “The Indus is ours and will remain ours – either our water will flow through it, or their blood.”
Imran Khan Also Targeted
Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saw his official X handle @ImranKhanPTI similarly withheld in India.
A statement on his account reads: “The account of @ImranKhanPTI has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
Khan, too, had weighed in on the rising tensions post-Pahalgam, stating that “Pakistan has got all the capabilities to give a befitting response to any Indian misadventure.”
Wider Crackdown on Pakistani Voices
India’s action extends beyond political figures. It has already blocked the official X accounts of the Government of Pakistan, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who recently claimed that India was planning a military strike, citing “credible intelligence.”
In addition, India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including well-known media outlets such as Dawn News, ARY News, Geo News, BOL News, SAMAA TV, and public figures like Asma Shirazi and Muneeb Farooq. These channels were accused of disseminating “false and misleading narratives” and content that allegedly threatened India’s national security, foreign relations, and public order.
Together, these platforms amassed viewership in the crores and actively spread “provocative and communally sensitive content” aimed at destabilizing domestic harmony.
A Cascade of Retaliatory Measures
Following the terror attack, India announced a series of decisive actions. These included:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960
- Also, 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
- Moreover, the reduction of diplomatic staff in both countries
- Ban on the import of goods from or transiting through Pakistan
- Prohibition of Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports
In response, Pakistan barred Indian flag carriers from accessing its ports and announced reciprocal bans on Indian vessels.
Background: The Triggering Incident
The Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead and many injured, was a major blow to regional peace. Indian Prime Minister Modi condemned it as a “cowardly attack on innocent civilians“, vowing “firm and decisive” measures against terrorism and its alleged backers.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), has since guided an aggressive diplomatic offensive, as bilateral relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors plummet to new lows.
