India blocks Instagram accounts of Pakistani actors after Pahalgam terror attack

In a significant move following the Pahalgam terror attack that shook the nation, the Indian government on Wednesday ordered the blocking of Instagram accounts belonging to several well-known Pakistani actors. The action is part of a broader digital clampdown aimed at curbing the influence of individuals and media entities seen as spreading anti-India sentiments or linked to a hostile state.

Among the prominent names whose Instagram profiles are now inaccessible in India are Mahira Khan, Hania Amir, and Ali Zafar. Clicking on their profiles from Indian territory now redirects users to a message reading: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

Mahira Khan, known for her role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 Bollywood film Raees, enjoys a significant following in India. Similarly, singer-actor Ali Zafar has worked in multiple Bollywood films including Tere Bin Laden and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. Though Hania Amir hasn’t featured in Indian cinema, her Pakistani dramas and social media presence have earned her a large Indian fan base.

Other Pakistani celebrities facing the same restriction include Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly—all of whom are well-known in Indian entertainment circles due to the popularity of Pakistani television shows.

This development comes just days after India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major outlets like Geo News, Dawn News, ARY News, and Samaa TV. These channels were accused of promoting communally inflammatory narratives, spreading misinformation, and attacking the Indian Army and its security agencies in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

The deadly assault, which killed 26 Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. The incident occurred during U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India, raising serious diplomatic and security concerns.

In response, the Indian government has also suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and ordered Pakistani nationals residing in India to return home. These actions underline a hardening stance in bilateral relations amid escalating cross-border tensions and growing domestic outrage.