Pakistan Lifts Ban on X to Engage in Ongoing Narrative Battle with India
Tanveer Ahmed:
Islamabad:In a strategic move to bolster its presence in the ongoing “narrative war” with India, Pakistan has officially removed the ban on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), signaling a shift toward more active digital engagement.
The decision was confirmed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan. The chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the committee about the restoration of the platform.
Senator Palwasha Khan praised the move, stating, “I pay tribute to the Chairman PTA for opening X. We have to give a full and effective response in the narrative war with India. The entire nation is responding to Indian trolls on X.”
The platform had been inaccessible in Pakistan for more than a year, following a ban imposed on February 17, 2024, upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior. The restriction was widely criticized for curbing digital freedom and stifling public discourse.
Independent internet monitoring organization NetBlocks has confirmed the restoration of access to X in Pakistan. “Matrix shows access to X has been restored in Pakistan,” the group stated, adding that the platform had been restricted by authorities in early 2024.
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