India on Thursday blocked the YouTube channel of former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi.
The decision reportedly follows Afridi’s bold criticism of the Indian government and military over their failure to prevent the recent Pahalgam incident in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Indian media reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended a ban on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those run by three former Pakistani cricketers. Afridi, known for speaking his mind, had directly questioned India’s tendency to blame Pakistan for every untoward incident in Kashmir.
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In a viral statement, Afridi had said, “Even if a firecracker goes off there, Pakistan is blamed. You’ve got 800,000 soldiers in Kashmir, and such incidents still happen? That means you’re incompetent and can’t protect your people.”
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His comments sparked a heated reaction in India. Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and controversial ex-Pakistani player Danish Kaneria attempted to slam Afridi online, but he stood firm on his stance, refusing to back down.
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According to New Delhi the YouTube was banned for “national security” reasons, but many people think it was a direct reaction to Afridi’s outspoken criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strict policies. Many people follow Afridi’s channel because of his commentary on sports and social issues, and the block seems to be an effort to silence dissenting opinions.
Previously, YouTube channels of former cricketers Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, and Basit Ali were also blocked in India under similar conditions.
