India Restores X Account of Turkey’s TRT & China’s Global Times
In a sudden turn of events, India has restored the official X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT World and Chinese government’s Global Times, just a day after suspending them. This move comes amidst growing tensions between India and Turkey-China over their alleged support for Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The suspension of TRT World and Global Times’ X accounts had sparked widespread outrage and concern, with many fearing that it was an attempt to silence critical voices and stifle free speech. The sudden restoration of their accounts, however, has raised more questions than answers.
TRT World is a Turkish public broadcaster that is known for its unbiased reporting and in-depth coverage of international news. Global Times, on the other hand, is a Chinese state-owned newspaper that is closely linked to the Communist Party of China. Both accounts had been active on X until Wednesday morning, when they were suddenly suspended.
The reason behind the suspension was not immediately clear, but many speculated that it was a result of the growing tensions between India and Turkey-China over their alleged support for Pakistan. Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, which had left several people dead and many more injured.
In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military operation aimed at targeting terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan. Turkey and China, however, have been accused of supporting Pakistan in its efforts to create unrest in the region.
Several Indians have already cancelled their trips to Turkey in response to the growing tensions, and many more are expected to follow suit. The restoration of TRT World’s and Global Times’ X accounts, however, may not be enough to ease tensions between the two countries.
In a statement, an X spokesperson said that the accounts had been restored after a thorough review of the content and a guarantee that they would comply with X’s community guidelines. However, many have raised questions about the criteria used to determine what content is acceptable and what is not.
The suspension and restoration of TRT World and Global Times’ X accounts also raises concerns about the safety and security of journalists and media organizations in the region. The Indian government’s decision to suspend the accounts, without providing any clear reason or explanation, has sparked fears of censorship and media repression.
TRT World and Global Times have been vocal critics of India’s military operations in Kashmir, and have repeatedly accused the Indian government of human rights abuses and military aggression. The restoration of their accounts, however, may be seen as a compromise between the two countries.
In a statement, a TRT World spokesperson said that the suspension of their account was a “clear attempt to silence” independent voices and that they were relieved that their account had been restored. Global Times, on the other hand, did not issue a statement, but many of its journalists have taken to social media to express their relief and gratitude for the restoration of their account.
As the situation continues to unfold, many are left wondering what the future holds for TRT World and Global Times in India. Will they continue to operate freely and independently, or will they face further restrictions and censorship? Only time will tell.
