NEW DELHI: A decade old ban on Pakistani public and private television channels in India is due for a review, thanks to the efforts of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbass Jilani’s strong pitch last week, the Times of India reported on Saturday.
According to the report, Jilani had said that all Indian channels were freely available in Pakistan and Islamabad has done nothing to impose restrictions on their telecast, and the measure must be reciprocated for Pakistani channels in India during talks between the two countries last week.
The Pakistani delegation went on to make a case that if India wants to burgeon people-to- people contacts, it must allow Pakistani channels into Indian homes.
The point seemed to hit home as the Indians "conveyed to them (Pakistan) that India will look positively at the proposal although the matter will have to be first discussed by the information and broadcasting ministry and its counterpart in Pakistan," said a source, adding that PTV's "anti-India" campaign in the past over internal issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, has been a concern.
In 2009, the Senate's standing committee on information and broadcasting appealed to the Indian Parliament to ensure airing of Pakistani channels in India. The same Senate next year asked Pakistani cable operators to stop airing Indian TV channels citing "cultural invasion". But with people-to-people contacts finding favour, the Pakistani request might fall on more receptive ears in New Delhi.
Both neighbours will look to seal further cultural cooperation by signing an MoU for promotion of arts and culture when Indian foreign minister S M Krishna visits Pakistan in September.
During the talks, both sides are believed to have underlined the importance of greater people-to-people contacts and friendly exchanges in building "a relationship of trust and friendship between the two countries". These exchanges, they believed can lead to "cessation of hostile propaganda against each other".
COMMENTS (74)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@ J Von Hettlingen
"India is afraid of more soft power from Pakistan within its borders. Over 10% of its population are Muslims, whose hearts beat more for Pakistan than for India. The other way round, there aren’t many Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan, who would want to watch TV programs from India".
Most Indian Muslims are proud Indians and their hearts beat for India only. You are indulging in wishful thinking. You should see the Indian Muslims cheer for their national cricket team when it plays against Pakistan to gauge their patriotism.
As for the Hindus and Sikhs that live in Pakistan their population is dwindling and I am positive they are not amused by the likes of Zaid Hamid and his call for ghazwa e Hind on national television.
Indian culture and ethos has endured the onslaught of invading armies and ideologies for eons, I am sure a few sub standard Pakistani shows will not change anything.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Let’s isolate ourselves and regress further into the abyss, let us become even more like North Korea and Afghanistan, convincing ourselves that the whole world is against us. Pakistan can project ‘soft power’ through its entertainment and media industry, much as India, China and the US have done through theirs. Better relations with India is a sensible foreign policy strategy – next steps should perhaps include student exchange programmes? Just look at European reconciliation, or Arab-Turkish reconciliation. Plenty of historical examples to draw inspiration from.
@Concerned
North Koreans and Afghans are not a confused people with an identity crisis. Pakistanis, on the other hand don't want to concede the fact that they are South Asians that share the same genetic code, language and culture with their neighbors next door.
In order for Pakistan to project a soft image in India it has to acknowledge and celebrate its kinship with India by shedding its false identity as Arabs or other imagined races that Pakistanis are prone to claim descent from, in their denial of their Indian roots.
India is afraid of more soft power from Pakistan within its borders. Over 10% of its population are Muslims, whose hearts beat more for Pakistan than for India. The other way round, there aren't many Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan, who would want to watch TV programs from India.
Some of the Pakistani Channels like Geo,Ary,Hum TV can be seen in some parts of India but there is simply no market for the Pakistani Channels in India and nobody really cares about them.After all, we Indians have got more than 300 TV Channels of our own.Many people here only follow regional channels (Telugu,Tamil,Marathi,Gujrati and so on...).
@Tj: Then why Indian films are banned in Pakistan when they too practice freedom of Speech. First look in your backyard then point to others.
The other day, I watched a scene from Sharukh Khan's movie in which he appears to be in lahore and in some house. It seems he is not in Lahore but in Baghdad of Alf-Laila. Such is the misconception of Indians about Pakistan. By watching Pakistani drama channels, Indians will atleast find out that Pakistan is no different than India.
As a Pakistani, I have access to a variety of Pakistani & Indian Channels. There is harly anything interesting (for me) on Pakistani channels, except for an occasional drama. Indian channels are only slightly better, still not much quality stuff.
Indian govt should be wary of foreign media from unfriendly nations , who spread canard and falsehood and divisive ideas. India is a free country , where all citizens have equal rights irrespective of colour, sex, faith, race etc. Not even Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia allows free access to Indian channels. India should pick and choose media houses for giving permission to access Indian consumers. India cannot allow rightist organisations in Pakistan who work openly under guise of some NGO etc. Time for India to be firm and also sensitive in building relationship. So lets pick and choose..media houses from pakistan and enforce strictly the Indian code of conduct on these foreign media houses.
@Diogenes: Agree with you the lure of TRP and ad revenues will ensure moderation in content.After all the remote is always in the viewers hand too much hate and all you do is click.
@no one: but you doubt extreme extremist without watching those channela.obviously you learner it on your own. dear NO ONE you sound more extremist than those PAKIS
Good move if it happens. By and large the Indian public are capable of thinking for themselves. Let them watch Pakistani TV and decide for themselves. The government doing the thinking for the people sounds wrong.
@Someone: oh really so what about pakistani news channel propagandaa. 1.26/11 done by raw/mossad. 2.pakistan won 1965,1999 war and every war started by india, 3.1 martial race pakistani soldier= 10 inferior indian soldier. 4.osama bin laden was not killed in pak. 5.indian raw is responsible for flood in pakistan.
@BruteForce: I strongly disagree, Indian newschannels are a joke, filled with illiterate propaganda and cheap compared to Pakistani news channels. And the accents are even worst. We often watch Indian news channels if we need a good comedy or laugh. Just a short time ago, there some Indian channel (TV9 or something) blaming Pakistan for hatching some new conspiracy to fragment India's economy. Lol!
@TJK: there is a difference between other's view and lies. What Pakistan media has been promoting in past were lies. Secondly, there are limits to freedom of speech. One has to act responsibly to best use this power. If you make anti India comments why would we welcome you. Will you invite your ill-wisher to your home for lunch?
OMG! Philosophers, philosophers every where! Can't we just watch a TV program to promote mutual understanding, respect & friendship. Entertainment options in Pakistan are negligible compare to Indian Industry of Show Business & Print Media. India has all to gain & nothing to loose in such a market, in-case their Film Industry is worried about getting people to theaters from watching Pak Dramas. They can always have ticketed shows in Pakistan to cover the loss if any. Isn't this topic further negotiated & explained during "trade negotiation"?
@Reelu: Just to keep an eye on the devil. There is nothing wrong on being informed about the evil, but to propogate it is bad!
@Reelu: you ever hear 26/11 massacre compare before and after comments in any pak newspaper .90% common indian don't know what is language of pakistan or who is jinnah i think same in pakisan . mostly indian think pakistan is littile piece of land where women wear burqa and man wear bomb jocket .
My friend in Dubai once forced me to watch one Pakistani play called Bakra Kiston Mein on DVD.
Crude, cheap and low brow humor....I couldn't believe how the suited-booted gents were enjoying this !!
the Indians who say, no one in interested in Pakistani media, your presence in this forum shows that you guys are overly-obsessed with everything Pakistani. if that's not the case, please share a good reason what brings you here??
I have seen Pak TV shows on youtube. Very dull and bad when it comes to presentation !!
You are always most welcome India in this regard.Please do so as soon as possible on priority basis and hurry up........
Great News !! Now I can finally get my message across to all the Shudars and Dalits, and convince them to join us for Ghazwa :)
ban or no ban ,viewership pf Pakistani channels is not going to be significant,though it may add an another option for ever -hungry -for- news type people.but looking at the grotesque contents sometimes,only brave-hearts can endure their news.the main barrier is language.even hindi channels are not watched by a majority of Indians.
@Talal: "Doubt it would go through. Who will watch Indian TV channels in front of the amazing Pakistani dramas?"
In Pakistan where both are available, do people not watch Indian soaps?
@Diogenes: "but the positive effects from seeing that Pakistanis are not horned demons or all fanatic Al Qaeda members will be phenomenal."
Did Pakistan experience those positive effects by broadcasting Indian movies and channels? No.
I am not against this move - a broader choice for viewers is desirable. But the benefit that you said would supposedly occur has not happened in Pakistan - so I see no reason to expect it would in India
Good move.
I like to see Pakistani Comedy movie Moosa Khan and so do all indians. Excellent acting by that guy who looks very funny when he is angry.
@1984: Rajinikanth does outlandish stunts like Sunny Deol. Rajinikanth does not launches hate speeches against Pakistanis in his movies,Because the movies never demanded it. His movies are south centric and most of the south Indians don’t give a hoot about Pakistan. South India was not as much affected by partition or war of 1971.(so BORDER, GADAR, Sarfarosh etc) Have you seen Kamal Hasan's HEY RAM? Sunny Deol is just an actor who is following director's vision.. Rajinikant himself enjoys the jokes.
Whether the Pak government lifed ban on Indian TV chennels any time? Please check and enlighten? The ban is from both sides.
No Indian channel spews venom against Pakistan, falsifies History and blames Pakistan for its views. Plus, add to that the entertainment factor and it makes perfect sense for Pakistan to not ban them. Besides, Pakistanis are so addicted to Star Plus that many went ahead and got dish TV to circumvent the occasional Pakistan banning of Indian TV.
Pakistan's channels are a way of the propaganda of the deep state. Indian establishment does not have "security experts" sprouting all sort of non-sense.
Not only channels, but all types of books, magazines, music etc should be available in both countries. Though I can reach English Media of Pakistan, but urdu and hindi print material is more relevant. Can some one start a magazine in roman with writers from both sides? It will be interesting. Net can be a platform.
@romeo: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Let's isolate ourselves and regress further into the abyss, let us become even more like North Korea and Afghanistan, convincing ourselves that the whole world is against us. Pakistan can project 'soft power' through its entertainment and media industry, much as India, China and the US have done through theirs. Better relations with India is a sensible foreign policy strategy - next steps should perhaps include student exchange programmes? Just look at European reconciliation, or Arab-Turkish reconciliation. Plenty of historical examples to draw inspiration from.
@londonistani: I beg to differ...Rajinikanth never does outlandish stunts like Sunny Deol or launches hate speeches against Pakistanis in his movies....(pls post the youtube links if u differ in my views,not hearsay) His movies are south centric and most of the south Indians don't give a hoot about Pakistan..
The "Rajinikanth Jokes" are just the product of Northies who want to make fun of South indians (which are just cut-copy-paste of Chuck Norris Jokes anyway)and started after OSO where Shahrukh Khan says "Enna Rascala,Mind it"
I'm not a Rajini fan,but I hate to see everyone making fun of him which he doesnt deserve
The comments on this particular news article has made me laugh till tears were visible! Thank you tightchuddi, elastic chuddhi and all others who passed wise cracks! Love you guys!! Peace.
What about (LOL)lywood? Is that being opened as well? I wonder what will happen in India when they unleash gems like Maula Jatt, Hitlar, Cheetah, International Gorillay
who wants to watch that crap...they look like a creation of eastman color era....no quality...spare us...
Doubt it would go through. Who will watch Indian TV channels in front of the amazing Pakistani dramas?
@Sami: hmm, let me sum up some alternate view points that prevail in Pakistan: Anti-Hindu, Anti-Ahmadi, bash women on television (Kamran Shahid), preach street hatred(Hafiz Sayeed), spin doctor (Zaid Hamid & Air Marshal), praise la-Quaeda, promote archaic blaspheme laws.
Almost every society encompasses certain minor degree of anti-social elements, but in Pakistan those have become a way of life. Am happy that all those hate mongering channels in Pakistan should be banned. Same should apply in India too, hate mongering channels in India should be banned too.
Think positive. Imagine what dramas like hamsafar can do. I think it will have positive impact.
What about the Anti-Indian content and interviews by Zahid Hamid in mostly every news channel. Will they too be telecasted ?..........
We cannot afford not to have double standards in this matter. Reality is always different.
LSDI from
Shining India.
@Tariq: pakistani army can anhiliate the whole indian army. and two people can destroy the whole pakistan army.....i.e sunny deol and rajnikanth tag-teaming!!!
Better to allow Pakistani TV channels in India or Indian films and TV should ne banned im Pakistan. Double standards by India should mot be allowed to prevail.
@ Tight Chuddi:
If we have to suffer Zakir Naik at least we can return the favor through Zaid Hamid.
Dear Indians, please bear Zaid hamid for a while, to compensate for all those years we have been watching sunny deol single-handedly destroying an entire battalion of pak army in one go.
so if india runs anti-pakistan campaign in their media & bollywood that's acceptable, but PTV should not do that, Double standard Mr indians. Now is the time, indians should develop a big heart and let alternative view point reach their people.
mighty india is scared of alternative viewpoints and the brainless indians believe whatever their govt or Bubblyworld feeds them.
lets wash some Indian brains.
Shame on our people and shame on our government of Pakistan for allowing Indian films screened in film theaters and Indian tv channels to come on air...............whereas Indian government slapped on the face of our idiots (politicians) by banning all the tv channels in India. We the people of Pakistan are only patriotic towards our country by mere sayings but not in deeds and that's why Allah Almighty cursed us by appointing the worlds proven idiots corrupt and thief politicians to rule our country.
@TightChuddhi: Yeah...we have their India TV already for 24x7 fun.
why on earth, indians will watch 3rd grade pakistani serials and movies?
@academic: Why would they unban your tv shows earlier when there are multiple tv anchors coming up with stupid remarks such as Sunny Deol threatening Pakistan ?
Seeing Pak Channels will be Ten-fold fun for Indian audience, believe me. They have no choice like we do in Pakistan. If we can trade, barter, communicate at intellectual level without any problem, what India is afraid of? After-all Indians are hiring Pak actors & singers in increasing number anyway. Pak TV shows has been popular & being watched in India from decades now.
As long as Hafees Saeed & co makes hate India campaign & calls for jihad against India we dont have any problem
Prohibition breeds curiosity,and so brings just the opposite effect of what one genuinely desires; anyway an unwholesome solution,and shows a lack of confidence in one´sown folk.Time to grow up..
No Indian channels make ad money from their Pakistani viewership. This potential ad revenue will be a very significant factor in many channels in India lobbying for this rule to be overturned, because if they can actually sell ad space for Shaan masalas and Pakola then that's more revenue for them.
That being said, as an Indian, I feel that India should unban these channels. Some peoples' feelings might get hurt by the material that is broadcasted and no doubt there will be some fireworks -- but the positive effects from seeing that Pakistanis are not horned demons or all fanatic Al Qaeda members will be phenomenal.
If this happens, it will be the single most influential move that will promote peace between the two countries to take place between India and Pakistan in the last 15 years.
Channels of both countries should be watched in each other countries! Receipe for Peace & Prosperity. Let the Sanity Previal in Both the Countries.
And then they say they have freedom of speech and expression, a decade old ban on pakisani channels says otherwise.
man nobody would watch your channels "openly" saying slang's like :-
_ hindoo sajish hindoo involvement indian army is coward , we are dilerr mehmood gazni was great and he crushed the idolators and their temples RA&W involvement in mubasheer luqmans video leak we will divide india in 1000 parts india will bleed we will make so many cuts
_
Atleast i can say hate will become much much larger as most people Of India don't know much about pakistan except that it was created for muslims by jinnah.
Good move... Now I will watch Zaid Hamid's speeches instead of "Great Indian Laughter Challenge"
who is going to watch pakistani channels in India! NONE
I have never understood why India banned these channels. Our TV channels are so useless who would want to watch them in the first place. Lollywood is dead - ask Veena Malik and she will confirm it. She seems to have her main home in India.
if so, then only for hindi states, not for nonhindi plss. only dubbed version of zaid hamid comedy programs should be allowed for rest for full time entertainment.
Anything related to paki and middle east should be banned . Otherwise they will feel hatred and extremism in our society.
Why has Pakistan allowed Indian channels to air in Pakistan ??
@Adnan Khan: Sick and cynical.
Yes, definitely I think people should watch the show in which Mr Zaid Hamid comes as a guest. Its a super fun time for the whole family.
I strongly oppose.
Wow, thats so wrong of the indians that they talk about how they want better relations and they couldnt even unban our channels. All this while Indians have made ad revenues from Pakistani viewership. Where are all the herd of indians who are sheep to their government and justify such blatent acts of not allowing freedom of speech? How is your mighty democracy all awesome now? Face it, indians and indian governments are as petty towards us as we are towards them.
And when people in Pakistan talk about banning Indian channels, all our pseudo-liberals start losing their sleep over it.
What a confused bunch we have become..
Just do it so next time I go to India, I can watch Hasb-e-Haal.