In a decisive response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead, the Government of India has blocked access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Government of Pakistan. The move marks the beginning of a series of sweeping retaliatory actions aimed at tightening pressure on Pakistan over what India terms as its “continued support for cross-border terrorism.”
Just hours earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an emergency session of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), bringing together top officials including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to strategize India’s response.
Following the session, the Indian government confirmed that a broad spectrum of measures would be enacted—ranging from diplomatic downgrades and military coordination reviews to restrictions on civil interactions between the two neighboring nations.
“These are not symbolic actions. These are tangible, enforceable steps that send a message,” emphasized Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The most immediate and visible of these measures is the geo-blocking of the Pakistani government’s official X account, which is now inaccessible to users in India. The move underscores India’s resolve to counter not just physical threats but also digital and diplomatic channels perceived to be promoting or excusing extremism.
While Pakistan has not officially responded to the digital blackout or the subsequent measures, sources indicate a heightened state of alert across the border.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam is one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent months, prompting renewed calls from Indian leadership for global action against state-sponsored terrorism.
