Pakistani Celebrities' Social Media Accounts Banned Again in India After Brief Resurface

The social media accounts of several Pakistani actors have once again been blocked in India, a mere day after they were briefly made accessible to Indian users. On Wednesday, Indian netizens noticed the reappearance of Instagram accounts belonging to prominent Pakistani personalities such as Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor.

Brief Window of Visibility

The accounts were visible for only a fleeting 24 hours. Now, attempts to access these profiles are met with the message: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."

Other notable Pakistani figures, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, did not experience this brief unblocking and remained inaccessible throughout.

Government Advisory and AICWA's Response

This swift reversal follows an advisory issued on May 8th by the Indian government to OTT platforms and digital streaming services. The advisory mandated the removal of any content originating from Pakistan, including web series, films, music, and podcasts. This measure was implemented to reinforce India's stance on cross-border concerns.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) swiftly responded to the reappearance of these Pakistani actors' accounts. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICWA expressed strong objections.

AICWA's Letter to PM Modi

AICWA's letter stated: "It is deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable that social media accounts of Pakistani artists like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and several Pakistan-based channels are once again visible in India."

The association further emphasized the sensitivity of the issue, stating: "This is not merely a digital appearance — it is a direct insult to the sacrifice of our martyred soldiers and an emotional assault on every Indian who lost a loved one in terror attacks perpetrated by Pakistan.”