The Pahalgam attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were shot and killed by Islamist militants, have sparked a new crisis between India and Pakistan.

In addition to cross-border firings and mutual accusations, the incident has led to a spike in press censorship, as authorities in both countries look to control the narrative after the deadliest incident involving civilians in the disputed region in decades.

Both countries were deemed to have "very serious" concerns about press freedoms, according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s annual Global Press Freedom Index released ahead of the UN-designated World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

In India, the government of Narendra Modi has used a combination of media advisories, content bans and diplomatic messaging to shape domestic and international perception of the crisis.

A senior government official told DW on condition of anonymity that Indian authorities were deploying these measures to counter narratives that undermine the government's position.

"At this time, there is a need to maintain public unity and safeguard national security. There is no overreach as we see it," the official said.

India has asked foreign media organizations to adopt terminology that aligns with the Modi government's narrative. The Ministry of External Affairs last week wrote to outlets including the BBC, the Associated Press, and Reuters to protest their use of the term "militant" instead of "terrorist" in their reporting.

The government has blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels and restricted access to social media pages of prominent Pakistani news organizations, such as Dawn News, ARY News, Geo News, across India and other regions.

India has also restricted reporting on defense operations,........

© Deutsche Welle