The official X account (formerly Twitter) of the Government of Pakistan, @GovtofPakistan, has been restricted in India following a legal request. Indian users trying to access the account now see a message stating: “Account Withheld – @GovtofPakistan’s account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
The restriction reflects the growing digital front in ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. While the account remains functional and visible to users outside of India, it is now inaccessible to audiences within Indian borders.
This is not the first instance of such action. The Indian government had previously restricted access to the Pakistani government’s official accounts on the platform in July and October 2022, citing similar legal grounds. The recurring nature of these restrictions highlights how digital platforms are becoming instruments in broader geopolitical strategies and national security measures.
As bilateral relations between the two countries remain tense—exacerbated by incidents like the recent unrest in Pahalgam—online presence and digital diplomacy have increasingly taken center stage in the diplomatic arena. Restricting state-run social media channels is viewed as part of a broader effort to control narratives and influence public perception within national borders.
Despite the block, there has been no official explanation from either X or the Indian government regarding the specific legal basis for this latest move. The opacity around such decisions raises questions about the criteria used to justify these digital restrictions, especially when they involve state actors.
The incident marks yet another chapter in the complex and often contentious India-Pakistan relationship. It also draws attention to the growing importance of digital sovereignty, where countries seek to regulate and sometimes limit foreign content on their domestic internet.
