India bans social media accounts of several Pakistani actors and cricketers again
Accounts of Pakistani actors Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir remained blocked
Several social media accounts of Pakistani celebrities and YouTube channels blocked in India during Operation Sindoor have been temporarily reinstated. The move followed a recent government review that found some of these platforms had refrained from sharing anti-India content for an extended period.
According to media reports, Instagram accounts of actors such as Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor became visible again in India on Wednesday. YouTube channels of cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were also made accessible.
Reinstated briefly, some accounts banned again
Shortly after being reinstated, several of these accounts were once again blocked. Accounts of actors like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir remained inaccessible as of Thursday.
According to NDTV, users attempting to access these accounts receive the message: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."
Entertainment YouTube channels such as Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo, which were previously blocked, were also made streamable in India again.
14,000 accounts remain banned; periodic review in place
Sources cited in reports indicated that approximately 14,000 accounts across various platforms remain restricted. However, these bans are not permanent, as each account undergoes periodic reviews based on compliance with Indian digital regulations and national security laws.
India's earlier directive against Pakistani content
In May 2025, the Indian government instructed OTT platforms, media streaming services, and intermediaries to remove all Pakistani-origin content, including web series, films, songs, and podcasts.
The advisory emphasized that platforms must ensure content does not threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order. Several Pakistani YouTube channels—such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News—with a combined Indian subscriber base of 63 million were blocked for spreading misinformation and inflammatory narratives against India and its armed forces.
Hania Aamir at the centre of controversy
Among the reinstated celebrities, Pakistani actor Hania Aamir has drawn renewed attention in India due to her role in Sardaar Ji 3, starring Diljit Dosanjh. The film sparked backlash for featuring a Pakistani actor amid rising tensions, although the filmmakers clarified that Hania was cast before the military conflict began.
Pahalgam terror attack
Tensions between India and Pakistan surged following a deadly terror attack on April 22, 2025, in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, where militants killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists.
In response, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and launched Operation Sindoor—a precision military strike that destroyed nine terror launch pads and killed over 100 terrorists in Pakistan and PoK on May 7.
This was followed by Pakistan’s cross-border retaliation targeting Indian military and civilian sites. India launched a strong counterattack in response, leading to a ceasefire agreement on May 10.
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