In a swift reversal of a brief accessibility window, the Indian government has once again blocked access to several Pakistani social media accounts after an internal emergency review.
Just a day ago, Indian users were able to view Instagram profiles of well-known Pakistani actors such as Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi and Danish Taimoor. Additionally, YouTube channels run by former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, along with those of entertainment networks like Hum TV, ARY Digital and Har Pal Geo had become temporarily visible.
However, by Thursday morning, these platforms had reverted to their restricted status, displaying the familiar message indicating compliance with a legal order: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Sources within the government have clarified that more than 18,000 Pakistani social media accounts have been blocked across various platforms. These include individual profiles of celebrities, influencers and larger media and entertainment entities operating out of Pakistan. Officials explained that the temporary accessibility was not due to any revision in policy but rather a technical glitch or delayed enforcement by platform providers. They noted that although a handful of accounts may still appear accessible on platforms like X, YouTube or Meta, these too are expected to be geo-restricted shortly, as the corrective process is underway.
The original directive leading to these restrictions was issued on May 8, 2025, under Part II of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The advisory had called on OTT platforms, streaming services and intermediaries to cease hosting web series, films, music and other digital content originating from Pakistan. It cited grave concerns related to national sovereignty, security, public order and the integrity of India, urging digital publishers and platforms to adhere strictly to these guidelines.
The temporary resurfacing of Pakistani content drew immediate backlash, particularly from the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), which denounced it as deeply disrespectful to the families of victims of t*rrorism.
In a letter addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICWA urged the government to impose a complete digital blackout, halt all collaborative engagements and establish a permanent cultural separation from Pakistan. They referenced several terr*r attacks, including those in Pahalgam, Uri, Pulwama and the 26/11 Mumbai assault and labeled Pakistan as a “t*rrorist nation” owing to its continued backing of cross-border t*rrorism.
https://x.com/AICWAOfficial/status/1940325012939931866
The renewed clampdown on Pakistani-origin digital content is seen in the broader context of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The move follows a devastating t*rrorist att@ck on April 22 in Pahalgam where a tourist convoy was ambushed, resulting in the d*aths of 26 civilians, including 25 Indians. The Resistance Front, identified as a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and operating from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
India responded with a multi-pronged strategy that included downgrading diplomatic ties with Islamabad, announcing plans to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960 and launching Operation Sindoor, a precision military strike targeting nine t*rror bases inside Pakistan.
Public criticism of Operation Sindoor by various Pakistani celebrities only intensified calls within India for a comprehensive cultural boycott, which appears to have significantly influenced the government’s decision to reimpose digital restrictions.
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