Following the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India implemented measures against Pakistani content online. This included a ban on Pakistani YouTube channels and television dramas, alongside restrictions on the Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities. Popular Pakistani personalities such as Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam, Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, and cricketer Babar Azam found their accounts blocked in India.
A recent shift has seen the unblocking of some of these accounts. Indian users can now access the Instagram profiles of Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor.
Despite this, not all accounts have been reinstated. Those of Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Atif Aslam are still inaccessible to Indian users. This followed earlier actions, including the banning of Fawad Khan’s film ‘Abir Gulaal’ and restrictions on Pakistani content across digital platforms. The film industry voiced their opposition to the release. This move was also reflected in the controversy surrounding the release of ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ due to the presence of Hania Aamir.