India has partially reversed the restrictions placed on Pakistani digital content, restoring access to several Pakistani YouTube channels and celebrity Instagram accounts. This move follows a nearly three-month-long ban that had been imposed in April 2025 after an attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, many of them tourists. In the aftermath, India had restricted various forms of Pakistani content, including the social media profiles of celebrities and digital media channels accessible within the country.
Among the Pakistani celebrities whose accounts are now accessible to Indian users are Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor. However, several prominent figures remain blocked, including Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Wahaj Ali, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed, and Hania Aamir. Indian users attempting to access these restricted profiles previously encountered a notice stating, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The initial decision to impose the ban was part of a broader fallout between India and Pakistan, which intensified in May after Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian jets in response to missile strikes on its territory. The tensions spilled over into the entertainment industry as well. Fawad Khan’s film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Vaani Kapoor, faced disruption in its release due to the prevailing diplomatic and cultural friction. Streaming platforms reportedly removed posters featuring Pakistani actors, including Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane, from promotional materials of Bollywood films.
Confirmation of the lifted ban has come from both Indian media outlets and social media users. Screenshots shared online show that several previously blocked accounts are once again visible to Indian users. A tweet by an Indian user referenced the Asia Cup match in September, suggesting the easing of restrictions may be linked to broader political and public sentiment ahead of the highly anticipated cricket event.
The entertainment industry has not remained untouched by these developments. Earlier, the upcoming Punjabi horror-comedy Sardaar Ji 3, starring Diljit Dosanjh and featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, drew backlash. The Film Federation of India and FWICE had urged the Central Board of Film Certification to block the movie’s release due to Hania’s involvement. Actress Neeru Bajwa reportedly unfollowed Hania on Instagram and removed all related promotional content from her feed, which was widely interpreted as a response to increasing criticism and nationalistic sentiment triggered by the April attack.
While the unbanning of some accounts marks a shift in India’s stance on Pakistani digital content, the continued restriction of other profiles indicates that the broader situation remains unresolved. Nonetheless, the restoration of access for several public figures and content creators signals a tentative step toward normalizing cultural and digital exchanges amid ongoing political sensitivities.
