‘Dhurandhar’ Banned in Gulf: Pakistan’s Propaganda Wins Over India’s Ties?

A powerful Indian film, ‘Dhurandhar’, has reportedly been banned in six Gulf nations, a move largely attributed to Pakistan’s successful propaganda campaign. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain have denied the film a release, despite its explicit aim to expose Pakistani terrorism and its lack of any anti-Islamic content. This decision comes after considerable effort by the filmmakers to obtain approvals and follows the movie’s significant success in India, grossing over Rs 200 crore. The ban highlights Pakistan’s deep-seated influence across the Gulf, facilitated by long-standing alliances and substantial economic ties. Saudi Arabia’s historical partnership and the UAE’s major investments in Pakistan, alongside Pakistan’s role in training military forces in several of these nations, provide a strong foundation for Islamabad’s diplomatic leverage. This pattern of using influence to censor content critical of Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism is not unprecedented, with previous bans on films like ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ and ‘Tiger 3’ in the region. The decision is particularly perplexing given India’s vast economic interests in the Gulf, encompassing over $200 billion in annual bilateral trade, critical oil supplies, and a large Indian expatriate population of nine million people who are significant contributors to the regional economy. The ban seems to disregard the interests of this substantial diaspora and the robust trade relationship, seemingly caving to Pakistani diplomatic pressure. The broader global context sees diverse approaches to censorship, with Western nations often focusing on religious symbols while some Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries also implement restrictions on religious attire.