In a renewed digital clampdown, the social media accounts of several prominent Pakistani actors and cricketers were once again blocked in India, shortly after they were briefly made accessible. The move follows the Indian government’s advisory from May 2025, urging all digital intermediaries and streaming platforms to remove content originating from Pakistan, citing national security concerns.
Instagram and YouTube access revoked
On Wednesday, Instagram accounts of actors Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor were briefly accessible from India. Similarly, YouTube channels of celebrated cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were visible to Indian users.
However, this brief window of visibility closed quickly, with the platforms once again displaying the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” Notably, the accounts of Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir remained inaccessible throughout.
Government advisory behind the restrictions
The restrictions stem from a directive issued on May 8, 2025, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It instructed all OTT platforms and digital intermediaries to immediately discontinue any Pakistani-origin content — including web series, films, songs, and podcasts — whether free or subscription-based.
This action followed heightened tensions after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including 24 Indian tourists. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the attack.
AICWA demands total digital blackout
Reacting strongly to the temporary visibility of Pakistani social media profiles, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The association called for a complete and permanent digital ban on all Pakistani nationals, influencers, and entertainment platforms in India.
Calling Pakistan a “terrorist nation,” AICWA condemned Pakistani artists for what it termed “shameless” statements against India and labeled the reappearance of these accounts as an insult to India’s martyred soldiers.
The association outlined three specific demands:
- A nationwide digital blackout of all Pakistani accounts and media content.
- A ban on future collaborations or promotions involving Pakistani citizens in Indian media.
- A complete cultural disconnect from Pakistan as a tribute to the armed forces and martyrs’ families.
Streaming channels partially restored
Despite the overarching restrictions, some Pakistani entertainment channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo were reported to be streaming in India at the time this story was filed. This inconsistency has added to the controversy, with calls for stricter implementation of the advisory.