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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has praised the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) for its decision to stop airing Indian songs on Pakistani FM radio stations.

The move comes after India has accused Pakistan of involvement in an April 22 attack in Pahalgam in India-occupied Kashmir that left 26 dead, in what authorities described as the worst attack on civilians in years. Islamabad has denied any involvement.

Tensions have since spiked, with Pakistan reinforcing its forces and India’s premier granting “operational freedom” to his military. As Pakistan, in the early hours of Wednesday, said it expected an incursion from India within the next 24 to 36 hours, diplomatic channels from other countries have been engaged to prevent a possible military confrontation.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a letter on Thursday in which it commended the “principled decision by the PBA” in light of the rapidly evolving current situation. “This patriotic gesture is highly appreciated and reflects the collective sentiment of the entire nation. It demonstrates a strong sense of national solidarity on behalf of PBA,” it read.

“I deeply appreciate the above initiative of PBA on its own which upholds the dignity and sovereignty of the nation. This shows we all stand united in promoting national unity and supporting core values during such testing times.”

The ministry acknowledged “with pride the efforts of all media stakeholders who continue to act in the national interest and support government efforts which are directed towards promoting unity, peace and patriotism”.

The move to ban Indian songs on Pakistani radio comes a day after India banned the social media accounts of Pakistani entertainment channels as well as several celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar and others.