The Twitter account of Radio Pakistan has been blocked in India in what is seen as another attempt by the PM Narendra Modi-led right-wing government to deny access to information and restrict democratic freedom of expression.

The Indian government has also blocked Twitter accounts of Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations.

The FO’s spokesperson, in a tweet on Monday, expressed concern over the “diminishing space for plurality of voices and access to information in India”.

Pakistan’s state broadcaster says its account has been withheld for ‘highlighting grave human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’.

Expressing concern over the development, Radio Pakistan Spokesperson Chaudhry Zameer Ashraf said Radio Pakistan always upholds objectivity in its news stories, strictly abiding by international journalistic norms.

He urged Twitter to immediately restore access to Radio Pakistan Twitter account in India to ensure freedom of speech and access to information.