The X (formerly Twitter) account of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator and former federal minister Sherry Rehman has been blocked in India, reflecting growing tensions between the two countries despite a recent ceasefire.
This action follows unsubstantiated Indian claims about Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the May 6 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In response to what Islamabad termed an unprovoked attack, Pakistan retaliated, reportedly downing six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, disabling an S-400 missile system, and compromising critical infrastructure through cyberattacks.
Reacting to the social media restriction, Rehman stated that being blocked on the platform is a “badge of honour,” and described India as a country that has “existentially changed.” She revealed she had received an official notice from X confirming that her account had been withheld in India following a legal removal request by the Indian government under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The accounts of other high-profile Pakistani figures, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, have also been blocked in India.
In a public post, Rehman condemned the Narendra Modi-led administration, referring to it as the “Hindutva Republic.” She emphasized that dialogue is essential for responsible and mature states, and noted the suppression of voices in India advocating peace and coexistence, who she said are silenced due to fear of harassment.
Rehman underlined that complex issues such as Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, and other bilateral matters cannot be resolved through military means. She urged India to accept this reality, referring to the recent conflict as “#2025war” in her statement.
X confirmed that while Rehman’s content remains visible outside India, it has been restricted within the country in compliance with Indian law. The platform reiterated its policy of notifying users about such government-directed takedown requests.
In parallel developments, Indian authorities have also blocked access to Pakistani music on Spotify, drawing backlash from listeners. Additionally, social media accounts of Chinese state media outlets like Xinhua and Global Times, as well as Turkey’s TRT World, have been restricted.
Independent Indian media outlets such as The Wire have also faced censorship, with X stating it had received executive orders to block over 8,000 accounts in India. These include platforms like Free Press Kashmir, The Kashmiriyat, and Maktoob Media, known for their coverage of minority and human rights issues.
Furthermore, the Indian government recently shut down one Indian and 19 Pakistani YouTube channels. One journalist has been assaulted, and legal action has been initiated against two political commentators and satirists over their reporting on the Kashmir incident.
