KEY POINTS
- This move follows the earlier blocking of Pakistani TV and YouTube channels, and social media accounts of journalists, celebrities, and analysts
- Instagram accounts of top Pakistani cricketers including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, have been blocked for Indian users
- Two days earlier, the Instagram account of Arshad Nadeem was also restricted in India
Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD: The Indian government has blocked access to the Facebook page of WE News English for users in India, in a widening digital crackdown on Pakistani media content amid rising Indo-Pak tensions.
This latest action follows an earlier wave of digital censorship, which included the blocking of multiple Pakistani TV outlets, YouTube channels, and social media accounts belonging to journalists, analysts, and celebrities.
Observers say the targeting of WE News—a platform known for its balanced reporting and cross-border perspectives—is yet another attempt to curb alternative narratives amid escalating Indo-Pak tensions.
The restriction, though quietly implemented, reflects what critics describe as a confused and reactionary media policy that suppresses rather than engages.
Digital rights advocates warn that such actions not only stifle freedom of information but also deepen the divide between the two nuclear neighbours at a time when dialogue and transparency are most needed.
Separately, the Instagram accounts of several prominent Pakistan cricket stars including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan have been blocked in India in the wake of the Pahalgam incident.
That ban also extends to the likes of Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Shahid Afridi.
ALSO READ: Pahalgam Crisis: India Blocks Pakistani Entertainment Channels on YouTube
However, the accounts of World Cup-winning captain Waqar Younis and former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq have not been affected yet.
Two days earlier, the Instagram account of Paris Olympics gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem was also restricted in India.
Users attempting to visit his profile are shown a message stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Earlier this week, several Pakistani YouTube channels were also restricted in India.
