In a significant move amid escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has blocked the Instagram accounts of several prominent Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Sajal Aly, and Ali Zafar. Users in India attempting to access these profiles are met with a message stating, “Account not available in India. This change is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
This action appears to be part of a broader digital crackdown by New Delhi, reportedly aimed at minimizing Pakistan’s cultural influence in India. In addition to Instagram, several Pakistani YouTube channels streaming dramas and entertainment content have also been blocked. Other affected celebrities include Bilal Abbas, Sanam Saeed, Iqra Aziz, and Imran Abbas, many of whom have garnered significant followings in India due to their popular television and film work.
Interestingly, some Pakistani stars, such as Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Wahaj Ali, and Fahad Mustafa, have not experienced similar restrictions, raising questions about the criteria behind these selective bans.
This unexpected censorship has left many Indian fans shocked, especially those who followed Pakistani celebrities for their work in cross-border collaborations, fashion, and humanitarian causes. In a bizarre turn, a viral video surfaced online showing a group of Indian youth sending water bottles to Hania Aamir, mocking the Indus Waters Treaty suspension—another retaliatory move India made post the false flag. Though seemingly humorous, the clip underscores the growing hostility and trivialization of political tensions at a public level.
While Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt condemned the Pahalgam attack, blocking Pakistani artists’ social media accounts appears to be a harsh blow to cultural diplomacy.
