In the wake of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, India had blocked access to Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities. This was part of a broader move that included banning Pakistani YouTube channels and TV dramas. Celebrities like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam, Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, and Babar Azam, all popular in India, were affected.
Now, access has been restored for some. Instagram accounts of Pakistani actors like Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor are once again visible to Indian users.
However, the ban remains in place for others. The accounts of Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Atif Aslam continue to be restricted. These actions were preceded by the banning of Fawad Khan’s film ‘Abir Gulaal’ and restrictions on Pakistani content on other digital platforms, and the film industry also opposed the film’s release, as seen in the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s collaboration with Hania Aamir.