Pakistan enforces blanket ban on Indian content on its TV and radio channels

Indian movies and other content will disappear from Pakistani television channels starting tomorrow as relationships between the two countries hit a new low after a terrorist attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan of waging a proxy war and in return conducted a "surgical strike" across the border, though Pakistan denies both claims.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has announced a blanket ban on Indian content in the country. All satellite television channels as well as radio stations in Pakistan will have to comply with the conduct starting 3pm on Oct. 21. Those who fail to comply will risk getting their license cancelled, PEMRA said in a statement. The authority said Pakistani networks were airing more Indian content than they had been allowed.

The ban comes days after the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association allegedly banned Pakistani actors and technicians from working in Indian movies and television shows.

Furthermore, the film wing of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) political party, which operates on the motto of "sons of the soil", issued a 48-hour deadline to Pakistan artists to leave India or else be subjected to their violent physical attacks.

Last month they also threatened to disrupt the release of upcoming Indian movies 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees’. Both the titles star some Pakistani actors. They also threatened to "beat up" Indian producers and directors who work with Pakistani artists. Yesterday, Karan Johar, the director of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' came out with a video statement saying he will not work with Pakistani actors in the future.

The Pakistani media is finding PEMRA's decision, which was taken in the 120th meeting of the authority in the federal capital, a "tit-for-tat" move.