India has announced a ban on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of spreading provocative and communally sensitive content, as well as misinformation, particularly in relation to the tragic Pahalgam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir. The banned channels, which collectively have over 63 million subscribers, include prominent names such as Dawn News, SAMAA TV, ARY News, BOL News, and Geo News, among others.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made this recommendation following concerns over the content that misrepresented the situation and spread false narratives about India, its army, and security agencies. In addition to the YouTube channels, action was also taken against social media posts allegedly misrepresenting the facts surrounding the attack.

The ban came just two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali citizen. The NIA has intensified its search for evidence and is interviewing eyewitnesses to piece together the sequence of events that led to the attack.

Indian authorities have also released a list of 14 local terrorists believed to be actively aiding foreign terrorists in the region. These operatives are affiliated with major Pakistan-backed terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The authorities are working to dismantle the support networks facilitating cross-border terrorism and have launched coordinated operations in South Kashmir, especially in the Anantnag and Pulwama districts.

As investigations continue, the authorities have announced rewards for the capture of key terrorist figures, including three Pakistani nationals involved in the Pahalgam attack, and efforts are being made to disrupt terror logistics in the region.