New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India has expressed deep concern over the continued reciprocal blocking of news websites in India and Pakistan by the respective governments.“The Guild believes that unhindered access to news, especially among the neighbouring countries in South Asia, is an essential prerequisite to building an atmosphere of trust and understanding between the peoples and nations of the region. Untrammelled access to news, views, perspectives, and information will help create an informed citizenry, aid dialogue and help usher in peace in the region,” the journalists’ body said in a statement on Wednesday (January 14).The Guild noted instances of media in both countries going overboard with misinformation, spreading fake news and inciting panic, but urged that a blanket ban “does not expunge ground realities” and run counter to “the spirit of democracy and freedom of expression”.Statement on Reciprocal Blocking of Access to News Websites in India and Pakistan pic.twitter.com/jOwp1XCumO— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) January 14, 2026“…while such aberrations and instances of unethical journalism need to be dealt with more conscientiously, blocking all access is not the solution. A blanket ban does not expunge ground realities, but only serves to build a climate of fear and mistrust. Such bans also run counter to the spirit of democracy and freedom of expression,” it stated.The Guild has called on both the governments to lift these restrictions on news websites and restore access to cross-border journalism.In May last year, The Wire’s website was blocked for more than 12-15 hours after it carried a CNN report regarding the alleged downing of Rafale jets in the military confrontation between India and Pakistan. The website was unblocked after the platform agreed to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s precondition to take down the report. The original report by CNN was still accessible.Several other India media platforms were similarly affected during that period, including BBC Urdu, Maktoob Media, and others, whose social media handles were blocked.Further, as the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack, the ministry also issued orders to block over 1,400 URLs, which included numerous Pakistani news websites – the likes of Dawn News, Geo News, ARY News, Bol News, Samaa TV, and others – for allegedly spreading anti-India content and propaganda. Several of these websites remain blocked to date.