Pakistani celebrities’ social media accounts blocked again in India after brief visibility
PTC Web Desk: In a swift reversal, the social media accounts of several well-known Pakistani celebrities were once again blocked in India on Thursday, barely a day after they had briefly become accessible. By Thursday morning, Indian users were unable to access Instagram and Twitter profiles of stars like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mawra Hocane, and Fawad Khan.
A message displayed on Instagram now reads: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” Government sources said temporary access was due to a technical issue. "If certain accounts were briefly visible on platforms like X, YouTube, and Instagram, it was due to a glitch. The issue has now been corrected," sources said.
On July 2, users in India had reported being able to view Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities such as Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Fawad Khan, Shahid Afridi, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor. Pakistani YouTube channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo also reappeared briefly, sparking speculation that the restrictions had been lifted.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not yet commented on the accounts’ temporary availability or subsequent re-blocking.
The original bans were introduced amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions, particularly following Operation Sindoor — a military offensive aimed at terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Many Pakistani celebrities had openly condemned the operation, leading to widespread criticism and the geoblocking of their content across Indian social media platforms.
- With inputs from agencies
