The social media ban on several prominent Pakistani celebrities has been reinstated in India, just a day after their accounts briefly became visible to Indian users.
By Thursday morning, Instagram and Twitter profiles of stars like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane were once again inaccessible in India, with users receiving a message stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
This comes after a short window on July 2 during which Indian users reported being able to access various Pakistani celebrity profiles and major YouTube entertainment channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo. The unexpected visibility sparked speculation that the social media restrictions had been quietly lifted following online backlash and fan pressure.
However, the reimposition of the block suggests that the Indian government has reaffirmed its position—though no official statement has been released yet. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has remained silent on both the brief restoration and the subsequent renewed restriction of content.
The original ban had been put in place amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, a military strike conducted by India targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Several Pakistani celebrities had publicly criticised the operation, which led to a public backlash in India and calls to block their digital presence.
While some view the move as a matter of national policy and security, others—especially fans and content consumers—criticise it as censorship that unfairly affects art and culture. The lack of transparency surrounding the ban and its inconsistent enforcement has further fueled confusion and debate online.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the ban will stay, be modified, or lifted again—leaving many fans caught between politics and entertainment in the digital space.
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