As of July 4, 2025, social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities have once again become inaccessible in India, just a day after a brief and unexpected restoration raised hopes among fans.
What Happened:
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On July 2, Indian users were suddenly able to access Instagram and YouTube accounts of Pakistani celebrities like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Shahid Afridi, and others.
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Popular Pakistani YouTube channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo also briefly became accessible again.
What Changed on July 4:
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By Thursday morning, the same celebrity accounts and media channels were once again geoblocked in India.
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Attempting to access these Instagram accounts now shows a message:
“Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Context:
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The original restrictions were imposed following India’s Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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Many Pakistani public figures criticised the operation, sparking outrage and leading to Indian authorities restricting their social media presence within the country.
Current Status:
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No official statement has yet been made by the Indian government or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting about either the brief lifting or the reinstatement of the bans.
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Fans on both sides of the border remain confused, with many speculating that either a technical rollback or internal policy review is underway.
Summary:
The reblocking of Pakistani celebrity accounts in India reflects the continued sensitivity of cross-border digital content during periods of heightened political or military tension. While social media briefly reopened a window of visibility, the clampdown appears to have been reimposed with legal backing, as platforms cite compliance with government requests.
