India has implemented a number of strict measures aimed at Pakistan’s online presence within its borders in the wake of the April 22, 2025, terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The suspension of access to the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Imran Khan, the former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, was one of the most well-known measures.
India has directly blamed Pakistan-based terrorist groups, namely Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate, for the Pahalgam incident, which coincides with rising diplomatic and security tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Front of Resistance (TRF). Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is suspected of being involved in the attack, according to forensic evidence and intelligence intercepts provided by Indian investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
In a recent interview, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari acknowledged Pakistan’s problematic history with extremism, saying that although the nation has experienced waves of terrorism and has a history of supporting militant groups, it has since implemented internal changes to address these problems. His comments came after Khwaja Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, made similar acknowledgements about the country’s prior support of terrorist groups. But Bhutto also claimed that such measures are outdated and do not reflect the position of the current administration.
Political figures were not the only targets of the internet crackdown. To further exacerbate the diplomatic stalemate, India has blocked Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar’s X account after he asserted that Islamabad had “credible intelligence” of impending Indian military strikes. Furthermore, India disabled the Instagram profiles of well-known Pakistani celebrities like Atif Aslam, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir. Similar restrictions were placed on a number of Pakistani news websites and YouTube channels, such as Geo News, ARY News, and the channel of former cricket player Shoaib Akhtar. The Indian government accused these platforms of disseminating false information and content that could instigate religious tensions.
The Pahalgam massacre, which mainly targeted Hindu tourists but also killed a Nepalese person and a local Muslim, has been called the bloodiest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai bombings. Both sides have mobilized personnel along the border in response to the attack, which has triggered national protests in India and increased military preparedness.
Bhutto has persisted in conveying a contradictory message in public remarks, stressing Pakistan’s aspirations for peace while threatening a harsh reaction if provoked, especially in relation to issues like the Indus Waters Treaty. His divisive statements, such as “either water or blood will flow,” have garnered harsh criticism in India and have added to the tense situation.
High-profile Pakistani social media accounts in India have been suspended, which is part of a larger trend of diplomatic and digital reprisals following the Pahalgam incident. With both governments using information controls as part of their larger strategic responses to terrorism and cross-border tensions, these acts highlight the growing mistrust and the unstable character of India-Pakistan ties.
