Pakistan Responding To Article 370 Scrapping, Deals Blow To Indo-Pak Ties

If there’s a cross-border relation between two countries on any given part of the world that’s picked a habit to deteriorate rapidly, then it could be said citing Indo-Pak relations as an example may not be a bad idea.

Within months of the controversial Pulwama, Balakot strikes rupturing the already tense Indo-Pak ties, here comes a bit of a shocker from the other side of the border that may have given India something to think about where its relation with its hostile neighbor stands.

Apparently, there’s some confirmed news that back in Pakistan that suggests that a new slogan that reads, “Say No To India” has been launched as a nation-wide campaign and it stands for boycotting and banning all cultural exchanges.

None other than the ruling Pakistani government has launched the new slogan “Say No To India,” and in a scathing attack toward Indian culture, has decided to ban the screening of all Indian films across the entire nation.

The famous ‘Dawn’ newspaper shared on Thursday that the slogan was launched by none other than the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

“All kinds of Indian content have been stopped and Pemra (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) has currently been directed to step up its vigilance in this regard along with actions in the sale of the Indian DTH (Direct to Home) instruments,” shared Firdaus Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Broadcasting.

While the above may seem like some form of a knee-jerk reaction from Pakistan in a bit to retaliate against India’s recent scrapping of the controversial Article 370 in Kashmir, it seems, it’s response may linger on to hurt the cultural ties and amity in the Indo-Pak relations.

In addition to the above comments, the special assistant also happened to share that the National Security Council had already decided to create a special group whose job would entail keeping a check on all kinds on Indian content.

But where it comes to completely boycott or banning the screening of movies and other forms of entertainment content, then it’s not the first time that such a decision has been taken on either side.

Earlier this year, during February, Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association had boycotted Indian films and had shared that no Indian film would be allowed to release anywhere in the country. This was a move in direct retaliation to India’s fighter jets carrying out strikes in the Balakot area.

But it appears that not only the films or entertainment spheres but also the advertising spectrum will be dealt a blow as a part of Pakistani response to the scrapping of Article 370. Apparently, agencies in Pakistan could also take action against those advertisements that were made in India and screened across the border.