'Stop airing all Pakistani shows, films, songs': India tells OTT platforms after Operation Sindoor

The advisory, dated May 8, 2025, was issued under Part II of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

It stated that publishers and intermediaries must "ensure that content hosted or streamed does not threaten India's sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order."

The Ministry noted that several terrorist attacks in India have had cross-border links with state and non-state actors in Pakistan, NDTV reported.

Citing the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which led to the deaths of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, the government stated that the advisory is being issued in the interest of national security.

The Code of Ethics under the IT Rules states that "publishers must exercise due caution and discretion while publishing any content that could affect India's sovereignty, security, public order, or friendly relations with foreign countries".

"OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory read.

Earlier, the Indian government on Wednesday blocked the Instagram accounts of popular Pakistani actors like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar, among others.

The move to block the actors' accounts followed shortly after the government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content.

The decision comes a day after Operation Sindoor, during which the Indian armed forces hit nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pak-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam attack.