Several top Pakistani celebrities have disappeared from Instagram — but only in India. The profiles of stars like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar, and Sanam Saeed are no longer accessible to Indian users. This move is being seen as part of a broader digital crackdown by New Delhi.
When Indian users attempt to visit these Instagram accounts, a message appears: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” The same restriction has also been applied to the accounts of Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly. However, Fawad Khan and Wahaj Ali’s profiles are still viewable — at least for now.
This digital crackdown comes in the aftermath of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. That assault left 26 civilians dead. India has blamed Pakistan for the incident, though no evidence has been presented publicly. Islamabad has rejected the accusations outright.
The removal of celebrity profiles is just one part of the current digital crackdown. Indian authorities have also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, accusing them of spreading “provocative” and “communally sensitive” material. Among those affected is the official YouTube channel of cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar, which had over 3.5 million subscribers before it was removed.
This growing digital crackdown is only one piece of a larger diplomatic breakdown between the two nations. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, reduced the number of diplomats at its High Commission in Islamabad, and revoked visas issued to Pakistani citizens. These harsh steps have been described as retaliatory.
In response, Pakistan has taken its own steps. Islamabad has expelled Indian diplomats and military officials. It has also cancelled all visas for Indian nationals, except for Sikh pilgrims. The Wagah border crossing from the Pakistani side has been shut down.
Despite these tensions, Pakistan has called for a credible and impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Officials say such an approach is the only way forward.
