In the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22, 2025, the Indian government has escalated its crackdown on Pakistani digital influence within the country. Among the most recent moves was the decision to block Instagram accounts of several prominent Pakistani actors from being accessed in India.

This development comes shortly after the Indian government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major media outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News. These channels were accused of airing provocative, communally charged content, spreading misinformation, and promoting anti-India narratives, particularly targeting the Indian Armed Forces and security agencies.

In a similar move on social media platforms, Instagram accounts of popular Pakistani celebrities like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar are no longer accessible in India. Indian users trying to visit these profiles are met with a message that reads, “Account not available in India,” citing a legal request for restriction. The decision appears to be a part of the Indian government’s broader strategy to limit Pakistani influence across media platforms amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Mahira Khan, well-known in India for starring opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 Bollywood film Raees, enjoys massive popularity across the border. Ali Zafar, who has worked in several Bollywood movies including Tere Bin Laden and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, is another major Pakistani celebrity whose social media reach in India has now been curtailed. Hania Aamir, despite not having worked in India, boasts a significant Indian fan base due to her work in Pakistani television and her active social media presence.

Other actors whose Instagram profiles are no longer visible in India include Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly. This move is symbolic of the rapidly deteriorating cultural and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The crackdown isn’t limited to celebrities alone. It comes in conjunction with other strong retaliatory steps taken by the Indian government, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of airspace for Pakistani flights, and the reduction of diplomatic staff in Pakistan’s High Commission.

The April 22 Pahalgam attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba—coincided with the official visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to India. The timing further escalated the already strained relations between India and Pakistan. In response, India has not only taken action on the diplomatic front but has also increased vigilance along the Line of Control and international border.

Adding fuel to the fire, a controversial statement by Pakistani senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan also went viral this week. Speaking in Pakistan’s Upper House, she declared that Pakistan’s army would lay the first brick of a new Babri mosque in Ayodhya, and that Army Chief Asim Munir would give the first azaan. Her remarks were widely seen as provocative and inflammatory, especially in the context of ongoing tensions.

Palwasha Khan, representing Sindh province in Pakistan’s Senate and affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), further asserted that Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army would refrain from attacking Pakistan because of its religious significance to Sikhism. Her statement was met with strong condemnation from Indian political circles and the public.

India’s recent actions reflect a decisive push to curb any pro-Pakistan influence, especially in the wake of terror attacks. The blocking of celebrities’ Instagram profiles might seem symbolic on the surface, but it underscores a growing sentiment within India to cut off cultural ties until substantial action is taken by Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism.

As the situation continues to evolve, digital platforms are becoming the new frontier in geopolitical retaliation, marking a shift in how nations assert their stance and protect national interest in the digital age.

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Source – Hindustan Times