Following the brief window of accessibility, the social media accounts of several high-profile Pakistani actors remain banned in India, following the government’s digital crackdown after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor earlier this year.
Who is still banned?
As of today, the following prominent Pakistani actors and celebrities remain inaccessible to Indian users on platforms like Instagram and X:
- Fawad Khan
- Mahira Khan
- Hania Aamir
- Atif Aslam
- Ali Zafar
- Shahid Afridi
- Fahad Mustafa
When Indian users look for these accounts, they still get the message:
"Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."
Recent developments
- On July 2, some Pakistani actors' Instagram accounts—Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, Danish Taimoor, and Dananeer Mobeen—returned visible in India, fueling rumors about the easing of the ban.
- i.e., the ban was reinstated within 24 hours on most of these profiles, and the most popular names continued to be blocked all along.
- Popular Pakistani entertainment YouTube channels and news channels, such as ARY Digital, HUM TV, Har Pal GEO, and Green TV Entertainment, have been unbanned, restoring access for Indian viewers to popular serials and television shows.
Background
- The digital ban was put in place after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in 26 deaths and India's follow-up Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK.
- Not just social media accounts but Pakistani web shows, movies, and music on OTT platforms were banned under advisories on grounds of national security and public order issues.
No official explanation
- The Indian government has made no official statement on the selective rollback or reinstatement of bans, and everyone, including fans and industry watchers, has been left wondering what criteria are applied.
- Industry organizations such as AICWA have demanded a total and permanent ban on all Pakistani nationals' digital presence in India.
The bottom line
Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Shahid Afridi, and Fahad Mustafa are still banned in India, with their social media profiles still geoblocked for Indians.
Although some unknown actors' pages were temporarily available, curbs on the largest stars continue, highlighting continued diplomatic and cultural tensions between the nations.