India on Wednesday blocked the official X account of Turkish state broadcaster TRT’s international edition, TRT World, before unblocking it later in the day, Indian media outlets reported on Wednesday.
The move comes amid outrage against Turkey in India following Ankara’s perceived support for Pakistan during the recent conflict.
The India–Pakistan standoff was triggered by an attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed.
India attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed militants, leading to a series of retaliatory actions.
On May 7 India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting militant infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan responded with “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” claiming to target Indian military bases.
The conflict escalated with missile strikes, drone warfare and artillery exchanges, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
A ceasefire was agreed on May 10, following diplomatic interventions, notably by the United States.
Despite the ceasefire, both nations accused each other of violations. While the immediate hostilities subsided, underlying tensions and mistrust between the two nuclear-armed neighbors persist, leaving the situation precarious.
The Indian authorities blocked TRT World’s X account, accusing it of spreading misinformation regarding the recent conflict.
X complied with the decision and blocked the account in India.
The wave of anti-Turkey sentiment in India was triggered by social media claims that Turkish drones and weapons were delivered to Pakistan during its standoff with India.
Turkey has denied those claims, stating that a single transport plane landed in Pakistan only for refueling and did not carry military equipment.
Despite the denial, several Pakistani accounts circulated images of the Turkish military aircraft, fueling speculation.
During the last days of the standoff, the Indian army claimed Pakistan used hundreds of Turkish-made drones to attack India and alleged it possesses wreckage to prove they are Turkish-made, prompting a backlash in Indian media and on online platforms
In recent days, Indian travel companies suspended packages to Turkey, retailers called for boycotts of Turkish products and social media campaigns urged Indian tourists to cancel trips.
The Indian government has previously taken similar steps against foreign media platforms it accused of spreading content considered hostile or inaccurate during security crises.
TRT World’s account has over 640,000 followers and frequently publishes content critical of Indian policies in Kashmir and elsewhere.
While Turkey has not officially protested India’s blocking of TRT World’s X account, the incident has drawn attention to Ankara’s own extensive record of digital censorship. Turkey has frequently restricted access to social media platforms and online content, often citing national security and public order concerns.