Many Pakistani social media accounts and YouTube channels, which were blocked in India after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, are now visible again. This has upset several Indian groups, including the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), which has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for action.
Accounts of Pakistani celebrities like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Danish Taimoor can now be seen on Instagram from India. But some others, like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, are still not accessible. YouTube channels of Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, and Rashid Latif have also become available again.
Popular Pakistani TV channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo, which had been blocked earlier, can now be watched in India. These accounts and channels were blocked after the Indian government issued an advisory on May 8 asking all platforms to remove Pakistani content for national security reasons.
The AICWA said in its letter, “It is very upsetting that Pakistani actors’ accounts are visible again. This hurts the feelings of Indians, especially those who lost family in terror attacks caused by Pakistan.” The group called it an insult to the soldiers who lost their lives in such attacks.
The bans had come after the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. In response, India carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The fighting lasted four days, with airstrikes, drones, and missiles used by both sides. India hit several Pakistani military bases, forcing both countries to agree to a ceasefire by May 10.
Even though the fighting stopped, the online bans stayed in place. Now, the return of some Pakistani social media accounts has led to confusion and concern. Many people are asking why the ban was lifted and what the government’s current policy is.
