No more Pakistani content: India's stern directive to streaming platforms
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
(MIB), Government of India, has issued a sweeping advisory mandating the immediate removal of all streaming
content originating from Pakistan
. The directive impacts all Publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms), media streaming services, and intermediaries operating within the country.
The official statement explicitly instructs these entities to "discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content... having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," regardless of their availability model, whether subscription-based or otherwise.
The MIB's advisory underscores the critical need for content platforms to exercise "due caution and discretion" as outlined in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It specifically points to clauses concerning content that could potentially undermine India's sovereignty and integrity, pose a threat to national security, jeopardize friendly relations with foreign nations, or incite violence and disrupt public order.
Drawing a direct link between the advisory and national security concerns, the Ministry explicitly references the established cross-border connections of terrorist attacks in India to state and non-state actors based in Pakistan. The recent deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which tragically resulted in the loss of Indian and Nepali lives and caused numerous injuries, is specifically mentioned as a key factor prompting this decisive action.
This directive, issued with the full approval of the competent authority within the Ministry, unequivocally signals a robust and uncompromising stance by the Indian government regarding content originating from Pakistan.
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