Pahalgam terror attack: Govt writes to BBC over reports terming terrorists as militants

"The XP division of the ministry of external affairs has conveyed India’s strong sentiments to Jackie Martin (India Head, BBC) regarding their reporting on the terror attack. A formal letter has been written to BBC terming terrorists as militants," a second officer in anonymity said as reported by Hindustan Times.

"XP division will also be monitoring the further reporting of BBC."

Besides BBC, the Centre has blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for provocative and communally sensitive content in the wake of the attack.

The banned YouTube channels include Dawn, ARY News, Geo News, platforms by journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema and Muneeb Farooq.

As per reports, these YouTube channels have been spreading false information and provocative content related to India.

On visiting these channels on YouTube, the users will be shown a note that reads, "This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report (transparencyreport.google.com)."

Pahalgam terror attack

Twenty-six tourists including 23 Hindus died after terrorists identified them as non-Muslims and gunned them down at Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Pahalgam.

World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the attack.

The terrorists, who were apparently in camouflage, reportedly asked the victims to chant Islamic verse, pull down their pants to check circumcision in a bid to confirm their Hindu identities before gunning them down.

India's strong response to Pakistan

The Modi government has taken tit-for-tat diplomatic steps against Pakistan, suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border with an immediate effect, cancelling Pakistani visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, asking the Pakistani advisors to leave India within a week and reducing the overall strength of High Commissions to 30 from the existing 55 effective from May 1, 2025.

Promising a strong retaliation against Pakistan over one of the worst terror attacks that took place in the popular tourist spot in peak season of tourism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the terrorists and their backers will pay unimaginable costs for the attack on innocent tourists.

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani, Modi said: "From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."

"Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done," he said, adding that the entire country is grieving the merciless killings.