The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday expressed concern about the continued reciprocal blocking of news outlets in India and Pakistan.
The press body said that unhindered access to news, especially among neighbouring countries in South Asia, is a “prerequisite to building an atmosphere of trust and understanding between the peoples and nations of the region”.
“Untrammelled access to news, views, perspectives and information will help create an informed citizenry, aid dialogue and help usher in peace in the region,” it added.
In 2025, India and Pakistan blocked a number of each other’s news outlets following tensions between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
In India, at least 12 Pakistani news websites were confirmed to have been blocked between April and May, including Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English-language daily.
The Indian government also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News, Geo News, ARY News. It said the action was taken for spreading misleading content related to the Indian Army and Kashmir.
Pakistan responded by blocking access to Indian media outlets from around May 8. At least eight Indian news websites, including India Today, Republic World, The Hindu and NDTV, were confirmed to be inaccessible. Islamabad also blocked 32 Indian news websites and 16 Indian YouTube channels.
In its statement, the Editors Guild acknowledged that there had been instances of media organisations in both countries “crossing the bounds of balanced and professional journalism”.
“There have been instances of media in both countries going overboard with misinformation, spreading fake news and inciting panic, which endangers lives and weakens democratic institutions,” it added.
The press body said that such violations do not justify blanket bans on news websites.
“While such aberrations and instances of unethical journalism need to be dealt with more conscientiously, blocking all access is not the solution,” it said. “A blanket ban does not expunge ground realities, but only serves to build a climate of fear and mistrust. Such bans also run counter to the spirit of democracy and freedom of expression.”
The Guild urged the governments of India and Pakistan to lift the restrictions and restore access to cross-border journalism.
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!