NEW DELHI – In a significant but selective move, Indian authorities have eased digital restrictions on several Pakistani celebrities and content creators, reinstating access to their YouTube channels and Instagram profiles for Indian users. The decision comes months after a sweeping blackout that followed heightened cross-border tensions earlier this year.
Among the Pakistani artists whose social media accounts are once again visible in India are actors Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Danish Taimoor, and Yumna Zaidi — all of whom enjoy considerable fan bases across the border. However, the ban remains in place for a number of high-profile celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Iqra Aziz, Wahaj Ali, Farhan Saeed, and Hania Aamir, whose profiles continue to be restricted.
The original clampdown was imposed in April following a deadly gun attack in Pahalgam, a town in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 civilians were killed. The Indian government responded by restricting access to several Pakistani YouTube channels and social media accounts, citing national security concerns and rising anti-Pakistan sentiment.
The situation further deteriorated in May when the Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian fighter jets in retaliation for alleged missile strikes on its territory. The military escalation cast a shadow over cultural and entertainment exchanges between the two nations.
Collateral fallout also hit the film industry. The release of Abir Gulaal, a much-anticipated cross-border collaboration starring Pakistan’s Fawad Khan and India’s Vaani Kapoor, was shelved. Streaming platforms quietly removed promotional posters featuring Pakistani stars like Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane.
Indian media outlets including India Today and Hindustan Times have now confirmed that access to a select group of Pakistani entertainment figures has been restored, signaling a possible softening of the cultural embargo. However, it appears the policy shift remains partial and politically calculated.
Earlier controversies, such as Hania Aamir’s role in the horror-comedy Sardaar Ji 3, had also fueled nationalist backlash. Her involvement triggered calls from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the Film Federation of India to halt the film’s release. Punjabi actress Neeru Bajwa, a co-star in the film, reportedly unfollowed Hania on Instagram and removed promotional posts — moves widely interpreted as efforts to distance herself from political fallout.
While the partial lifting of digital bans is being seen as a step toward normalization, the continued restrictions on top-tier celebrities reflect the deep undercurrents of nationalism and unresolved political grievances that still shape cultural policy between India and Pakistan.
Whether this limited digital thaw signals a broader softening of bilateral tensions remains uncertain — but for now, some Pakistani stars are back on Indian screens, even if only through phones and browsers.
