Amid growing tensions following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India has blocked access to the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of top Pakistani political figures Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Imran Khan within the country.
Bilawal Bhutto, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party and former foreign minister, had recently acknowledged Pakistan’s troubled past with terrorism, stating in an interview with Sky News that “Pakistan has suffered” due to its earlier involvement with extremist groups and has since undertaken reforms. His remarks echoed earlier admissions by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, who also conceded to Pakistan’s history of supporting terrorist outfits.
Despite this, Bhutto stirred controversy with a provocative speech during a rally in Mirpur Khas, warning that Pakistan seeks peace but would retaliate if provoked. Referring to India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, he said, “If someone attacks our Sindhu, then they should be ready for war,” and controversially declared, “Either water or blood will flow.”
The Indian government’s decision to block Bhutto’s and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s X accounts is seen as part of a broader strategy to counter inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation amid a highly sensitive security climate. The move follows heightened national security measures, diplomatic rebukes, and military preparedness after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead.
India has also put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, signaling a hardening stance against Pakistan for what it sees as ongoing support for cross-border terrorism.
