Pakistan urges global social media platforms to block accounts run by banned militant groups
Islamabad – Islamabad (AP) – Pakistan exhorted world social media companies on Friday to take hundreds of accounts that allegedly directed by prohibited militant groups which, according to Islamabad, claim to spread propaganda and glorify insurgents in the South Asian country.
According to the vice -minister of the interior of Pakistan, Talal Chaudhry, groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the separatist army of the Liberation of Balutchistan – prohibited by the Pakistani authorities and also designated as terrorist groups by the United States – used X, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Telegram to promote violence in Pakistan.
Chaudhry, who spoke to journalists at a press conference, urged technological companies to delete or deactivate these accounts, as well as those led by supporters of militant groups.
Deputy Minister of Law Aqeel Malik, who also spoke at the new conference, said that Pakistani investigators had identified 481 accounts with the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-E-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, and the Balochistan Liberation Army, or Bla.
The accounts were used to encourage violence and spread hate speeches, said Malik.
There was no immediate response from one of the social media platforms at the request of Pakistan. Pakistan itself has itself blocked access to X, mainly to curb criticism from supporters of the former Prime Minister imprisoned Imran Khan but also from the voices of other dissidents.
The advocacy comes in the midst of an increase in violence across Pakistan, a large part charged to the two militant groups, as well as to the Islamic State group.
The Pakistani Taliban are allies but a distinct militant group of Afghan Taliban. However, the Taliban takeover of the neighboring Afghanistan in 2021 Enhard the TTP.
Activist groups are also strongly relying on social media platforms to claim the responsibility of attacks on security forces and civilians in Pakistan.
