In a recurring development, Indian users once again found themselves unable to access the Instagram and X profiles of several well-known Pakistani celebrities on Thursday.
This comes merely a day after the same accounts had briefly become visible, sparking speculation that previous restrictions were being eased.
Profiles belonging to popular figures such as Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mawra Hocane, and Fawad Khan were among those rendered inaccessible by Thursday morning.
Fans noticed a sudden reappearance of these profiles just a day earlier, prompting widespread discussion across social media platforms.
On July 2, a number of Instagram accounts from across the border—including those of Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Fawad Khan, Shahid Afridi, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor—started showing up once more for Indian audiences.
Pakistani YouTube channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo also became accessible again, further adding to the confusion.
However, this visibility was short-lived. By the next morning, attempting to view these accounts triggered a message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
As of now, no formal communication has been issued by the Indian government explaining the on-and-off accessibility. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has remained silent on both the brief return and the subsequent removal of Pakistani digital content.
The initial restrictions on these social media accounts were imposed following India’s military action, Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The geopolitical fallout from the operation prompted digital platforms to comply with governmental directives.
Some Pakistani artists had openly criticised India's actions, sparking public anger and a wave of digital blackouts affecting their content in India.
The reinstated ban affects not only actors but also prominent cricketers. While Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channels briefly became viewable, others like Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir never reappeared during the temporary relaxation.
This clampdown also aligns with a wider directive from May 2025, where the Indian government instructed OTT platforms, digital intermediaries, and streaming services to cease broadcasting any content originating from Pakistan.
That advisory cited concerns under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, urging platforms to prevent the dissemination of content that could compromise India’s sovereignty or national security.
The advisory specifically stated: “OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect.”
While Pakistani entertainment networks like Hum TV and ARY Digital were briefly restored, their renewed availability has since been reversed.
On Wednesday, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued a statement condemning the brief visibility of Pakistani media and called for permanent action.
AICWA stated: “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.”
Pointing to past incidents such as the Pulwama and Uri attacks, the association criticised Pakistani artists for their alleged insensitivity.
“Instead of showing remorse, several Pakistani artists have shamelessly spoken against India,” AICWA remarked in a strongly worded appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The group laid out three demands:
- An immediate and total digital blackout of all Pakistani social media profiles and media channels in India.
- A complete ban on any future collaborations involving Pakistani personalities across OTT platforms, advertising, or entertainment.
- A permanent severing of cultural ties with Pakistan, in honour of India’s armed forces and the families of fallen soldiers.
These developments stem from a tragic incident in April, when a terror strike in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 25 tourists, including 24 Indians and one Nepali national.
The Resistance Front, linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit, claimed responsibility for what became the deadliest attack in Jammu and Kashmir since Pulwama.
India’s response included not only diplomatic downgrading but also suspension of bilateral agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty and the launch of Operation Sindoor—a precision military campaign targeting nine identified terror bases in Pakistan.
As tensions remain high, digital platforms continue to navigate a complex and politically sensitive landscape, with cross-border content becoming the latest casualty of the ongoing standoff.
