KARACHI — India has blocked access to the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Indian media reported on Sunday. The move comes amid growing diplomatic strain between the two countries following recent incidents along the Line of Control and in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Users in India attempting to access the accounts are met with a message stating the content has been “withheld in response to a legal demand.”
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemned the action, describing it as retaliatory and undemocratic. In a statement issued by the party’s media cell at Bilawal House, a spokesperson claimed the block was in direct response to Bhutto-Zardari’s “bold stance on the Pahalgam incident,” which he recently addressed before international forums.
The PPP alleged that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi feared Bhutto-Zardari’s rhetoric, calling India’s move “an admission of political insecurity.” The statement also labeled Modi a “coward,” accusing his government of suppressing dissenting voices.
The party further asserted that Bhutto-Zardari had long exposed what it called Modi’s “war-mongering” policies and would continue to challenge India’s narrative on international platforms.
The social media crackdown follows the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, after which India reportedly intensified restrictions on digital content from Pakistan. Since then, accounts belonging to Pakistani government entities, journalists, content creators, actors, and athletes have been blocked across platforms including YouTube, Instagram, and X.
X has been banned in Pakistan since February 2024, leaving users unable to access the platform without VPNs or alternative methods.
