The official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Government of Pakistan, @GovtofPakistan, has been withheld in India following a legal demand. Users attempting to view the account from within the country are met with a message stating: “Account Withheld @GovtofPakistan’s account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
The move comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, following a series of events that have further strained bilateral relations. However, the account remains accessible to users outside of India.
This is not the first time the Pakistani government’s social media presence has been restricted within Indian territory. Similar action was taken in July and October of 2022, also in response to so-called legal demands.
The withholding of official state accounts underscores the growing digital dimensions of geopolitical conflicts in South Asia, where online platforms are increasingly being leveraged—or restricted—as tools of statecraft and sovereignty.
Neither X nor the Indian government has publicly disclosed the specific legal basis for the latest action.
