In the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people, the Indian government has blocked the Instagram profiles of several popular Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Sajal Aly, and Ali Zafar.

Users in India trying to visit their accounts now receive the message, “Account not available in India. This change is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

The restriction appears to be part of a larger digital crackdown initiated by New Delhi, reportedly aimed at minimising Pakistan’s cultural influence in India. Along with Instagram accounts, several Pakistani YouTube channels streaming dramas and entertainment content have also been blocked in the country.

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Affected celebrities include Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas Khan, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and others, many of whom enjoy widespread popularity in India due to their contributions to hit dramas and films.

Interestingly, accounts of some Pakistani stars like Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Wahaj Ali, and Fahad Mustafa remained accessible in India at the time of publication, raising questions about the criteria behind the selective bans.

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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.