The social media accounts of several Pakistani entertainers and former cricketers were once again blocked in India, hours after they briefly became visible on Wednesday. According to a report cited by NDTV, the temporary restoration occurred due to “technical reasons,” though no official clarification has been issued by Indian authorities.
On Wednesday, Instagram accounts belonging to popular Pakistani actors such as Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor were briefly accessible to Indian users. However, these profiles have since been taken down again and are currently inaccessible from Indian IP addresses.
Meanwhile, YouTube channels run by former Pakistan cricket stars Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were also restored.
Even though some accounts were unblocked for a while, many others, including those of renowned actors Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, have remained blocked throughout. Users and fans who tried to view their accounts in India continue to receive a message stating, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Here’s what happened
Reacting swiftly to the Pakistani accounts being visible in India, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, calling for an “immediate and irreversible digital blackout” of all Pakistani entertainers and influencers across Indian media and social platforms.
AICWA, in a strongly worded letter, said, “It is an insult to the sacrifice of our martyred soldiers and an emotional assault on every Indian who lost a loved one in terror attacks perpetrated by Pakistan.”
The association referred to several high-profile terror incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Pulwama bombing, and more recently, the deadly assault in Pahalgam, to justify its demands. The statement labeled Pakistan as a “terrorist nation” and claimed that “instead of showing remorse, several Pakistani artists have shamelessly spoken against India.”
The organisation laid out three specific demands for the central government:
A blanket ban on all Pakistani digital accounts and media platforms in India.
A prohibition on future collaborations, promotional campaigns, or advertising that involves Pakistani citizens or entities.
A long-term cultural disengagement from Pakistan, framed as a symbolic gesture in honor of India’s armed forces and the families of fallen soldiers.
Backdrop: Diplomatic fallout after the Pahalgam attack
The controversy comes from the Indo-Pak tensions stemming from the April 22 terror strike at Baisaran in Pahalgam. The attack claimed 26 lives, including 24 Indian tourists, a Nepali national, and a local resident. The Resistance Front, believed to be a proxy for the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), took responsibility.
In response, India temporarily suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a historic water-sharing agreement dating back to 1960. Additionally, India launched Operation Sindoor, which reportedly neutralised nine terror infrastructure sites across the border.
While the Ministry of External Affairs has yet to comment officially on the renewed blocking of Pakistani profiles, the timing suggests continued enforcement of the government’s advisory on digital content with foreign origins deemed sensitive to national interests.
