The Indian government has reinstated restrictions on social media profiles of Pakistani celebrities, just a day after they briefly became accessible to Indian users. Accounts on platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for figures such as Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, and Yumna Zaidi were momentarily unblocked—likely due to a technical glitch—but have since been blocked again.

The block extends to high-profile names including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Shahid Afridi, Atif Aslam, Babar Azam, and others, who had already been restricted following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor . Users attempting to view these profiles now see the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content”

This digital clampdown is part of broader cultural and political measures taken by India in response to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 Indian lives and has led to intensified tension between the two nations. Earlier steps included banning 16 Pakistani YouTube channels due to alleged “provocative, communally sensitive content”.

sources