The ban on several Pakistani social media accounts has been reinstated on Instagram and X.
Pakistani social media influencers' and celebrities' accounts have been banned again in India. This reinstatement of the ban comes a day after the restrictions were lifted amid the backlash from online users.
India once again blocked accounts of famous television and film stars Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan, Mawra Hocane, and Yumna Zaidi. If users search for the profiles of Pakistani celebrities on Instagram, a pop-up message appears stating, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."
According to India Today the accounts were available briefly on Wednesday.
On July 2, accounts of Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Fawad Khan, Shahid Afridi, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor began reappearing for Indian users. Pakistani YouTube channels such as Hum TV, ARY Digital and Har Pal Geo had also become accessible again.
However, the bans on Instagram and X have been reinstated on Thursday morning. The government has issued no official statement regarding this. Reportedly, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has yet to react to the reappearance and disappearance of Pakistani channels and celebrity accounts in India.
The original restrictions had been enforced during the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and continued until after Operation Sindoor.
Several social media accounts of celebrities and YouTube channels of Pakistani news channels that were banned during the operation in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. Accounts of Pakistani actors, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, remained inaccessible from India.
The extent of the ban stretched beyond social media. A Hindi film starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan which was to release in May was banned in India. The Indian Express reports, "Hindi romantic-comedy film Abir Gulal featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan will not be released in India," according to Government sources.
India Today reports, several Pakistani celebrities have publicly criticised the operation, leading to a wave of backlash and the subsequent geoblocking of their social media accounts within India.
