BBC under fire for its misleading article titled 'Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after...'
PTC Web Desk: The BBC has come under heavy criticism in India for its recent coverage of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians last week. The Indian government has formally lodged a strong protest with Jackie Martin, who leads BBC’s operations in India, citing the intense public outrage over the media outlet's reporting.
The backlash centres around a BBC article titled "Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack on tourists," which, according to critics, misleadingly suggested that India was responsible for the killings. The government has expressed concern that the phrasing could distort the reality of the attack, in which Indian civilians were the victims.
Additionally, the Indian government has objected to the BBC's use of the term "militants" instead of "terrorists" when referring to the perpetrators. Officials argue that such terminology downplays the severity of the attack and misleads international audiences about the nature of the violence.
In a broader move to curb the spread of misinformation and inflammatory content following the attack, India has also blocked access to 16 Pakistani YouTube channels. This action, carried out on the recommendation of the Home Ministry, aims to prevent the circulation of provocative material that could incite communal unrest and spread false narratives against India and its security forces.
The banned platforms include major Pakistani news channels such as Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News, as well as channels run by Pakistani journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq. Other blocked channels include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama. Users attempting to access these channels within India are now met with a notification stating: "This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order."
According to government sources, the ban is part of a series of measures intended to safeguard national security and public harmony after the attack.
This incident has further strained India-Pakistan relations. India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, citing Pakistan’s links to the Pahalgam attackers. Pakistani nationals living in India have been directed to leave by Sunday, with those on medical visas required to exit by Tuesday.
In retaliation, Pakistan has announced the suspension of all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement. Tensions have also escalated along the Line of Control, with Pakistan accused of frequent ceasefire violations and provocations targeting Indian forces.
- With inputs from agencies
