April 25, 2025 | New Delhi
One of the most striking moves came from the Indian digital streaming industry after the Pahalgam attack. FanCode, the Indian platform that held the digital rights to stream Pakistan’s premier cricketing event, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, has ceased broadcasting PSL matches with immediate effect. The decision was taken as a form of protest and symbolic retaliation against Pakistan, which is widely held responsible for the attack. Dream11, another Indian sports and fantasy gaming platform, has followed suit, removing all PSL-related content from its apps.
The decision marks a rare instance of a “cricketing strike on Pakistan.” FanCode, with its large user base, was one of the most popular platforms for PSL viewership among Indian cricket fans. With PSL 2025 currently underway and set to continue till May 18, this decision is expected to dent the league’s digital viewership and advertising revenue severely. So far, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not issued a formal statement, but insiders suggest the development has sparked urgent high-level meetings.
Political Shockwaves: MLA Arrested for Defending Pakistan
As outrage against Pakistan builds, it has also ignited political tensions within India. Aminul Islam, a sitting MLA from Assam’s AIUDF party, has been arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly making statements defending Pakistan in the context of the Pahalgam attack. Assam Police’s DGP Harmeet Singh confirmed that Islam’s “misleading and provocative” statements had the potential to create civil unrest.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned sternly, stating, “Anyone who defends Pakistan directly or indirectly will face strict action.” A case of treason has been registered against the MLA, with charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
CM Sarma also announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack, stating, “Our people stand shoulder to shoulder with these families.”
Deportation Orders: 1800 Pakistanis to be Sent Back from UP
The Indian government has begun the deportation process for over 1800 Pakistani nationals residing in Uttar Pradesh. These individuals had entered India on valid visas years ago but overstayed illegally. DGP Prashant Kumar of UP Police confirmed that those who have not applied for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would face legal action if they do not leave voluntarily within the set deadline.
According to intelligence sources, Pakistani citizens have been found in several UP districts, including Bareilly, Bulandshahr, Varanasi, and Rampur. Many have either overstayed their visas or tried to obtain Indian documentation through illegal means.
Muslim Community Joins Protest, Calls for Stronger Action
The Muslim community in various parts of India, especially in Bhopal, rose in vocal protest against terrorism and Pakistan. Hundreds gathered in old Bhopal city, burning effigies and chanting slogans like “Pakistan Murdabad” and “Terrorism Murdabad.”
Protesters, many of whom held placards demanding immediate military action, said,
“The Indian Army should have breakfast in Delhi and lunch in Lahore.” The community expressed their readiness to support the Indian Army at the borders and called for full-scale retaliation, saying that “surgical strikes are not enough anymore.”
One protester stated, “We are ready to sacrifice our lives. This is the time for action, not diplomacy.”
Explosive Retaliation: Terrorist Houses Blown Up
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir launched a high-intensity counter-terror operation following the attack. In Tral’s Monghama area, the house of terrorist Ashif Shaikh, believed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, was destroyed in a powerful explosion. Explosives were reportedly stored inside the premises, triggering the blast during a cordon-and-search operation.
Another house belonging to Adil Thokar, alias Adil Guree, also linked to the Pahalgam attack, was demolished in Bijbehara. Thokar had received training in Pakistan in 2018 and returned to J&K in 2024. Intelligence suggests that he played a logistical role in the planning and execution of the April 22 attack.
Who Ordered the Attack? Former Pakistani Officer Makes Explosive Allegation
In a major revelation, former Pakistani military officer Adil Raza has claimed on the social media platform X that Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, ordered the Pahalgam attack. Raza labeled Munir a “fascist” acting in his interest and emphasized that the Pakistani public is largely unaware of such covert operations.
Raza’s statement has only intensified diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India has since expelled Pakistani military attachés and formally suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a decades-old agreement on river water sharing.
Pakistan Retaliates: Airspace Shut, Trade Suspended
In a retaliatory move, Pakistan has shut its airspace and Wagah border to Indian flights and halted all bilateral trade. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting with military chiefs and key ministers, stating that any Indian attempt to divert or block waters under the Indus Treaty would be “considered an act of war.”
Sharif’s government also threatened to withdraw from the 1972 Simla Agreement, which governs the Line of Control.
Violence Spreads: Kashmiri Students Attacked in Punjab
Meanwhile, a disturbing incident has been reported from Derabassi, Chandigarh, where Kashmiri students of Universal Group of Institutions were attacked in their hostel. The attackers, reportedly carrying sharp weapons, entered the premises and physically assaulted the students. One student sustained serious injuries.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann condemned the violence and promised strict action. Local police, however, claimed it started from an altercation during a sports activity and have not yet registered an FIR.
India’s Stand: Stronger Than Ever
Prime Minister Modi has vowed that every terrorist and their backers will be “tracked, identified, and punished.” The government’s unprecedented diplomatic, economic, and symbolic retaliation marks a significant shift in India’s posture following cross-border terrorism.
From shutting borders and treaties to striking Pakistan’s cricket league, the message is loud and clear India will not remain silent in the face of bloodshed.
