Amid intensifying tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a sweeping advisory directing all OTT platforms and digital media intermediaries to immediately discontinue access to all content originating from Pakistan.

The official advisory reads:

“Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based State and non-State actors. Recently, on April 22, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others."

https://x.com/ANI/status/1920445225140387867

“In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect.”

The decision comes in response to the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people lost their lives, and several others were injured. The Centre’s directive is being seen as a cultural clampdown, adding to the broader strategic and diplomatic response underway.

The ban targets a variety of Pakistani-origin digital content — including popular dramas, web series, music albums, and podcasts — hosted on Indian platforms. All such content is to be taken down immediately.

This move is not without precedent. Cultural ties between India and Pakistan have often been the first casualties of cross-border violence. After the 2016 Uri attack, Pakistani artists were unofficially barred from working in Indian cinema. However, some Pakistani shows and music continued to be available online — until now.