Indian authorities have restricted access to the Instagram account of Pakistani singer Abida Parveen.

New Delhi's Social Media Crackdown on Pakistani Artists and YouTube Channels

Let's dive into the latest digital battle between India and Pakistan

In a surprising turn of events, the Instagram accounts of renowned Pakistani artists—Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar—have become inaccessible in India. The latest addition to this list is none other than the iconic Pakistani singer Abida Parveen. A Message from Instagram stating, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content," has been visible on her account.

India earlier enforced a ban on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including significant media outlets like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News. The ban was instituted due to the spread of provocative and communally sensitive content, false narratives, and misinformation against India, its Army, and security agencies, in the wake of the devastating Pahlagam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir.

This action echoes recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of India. A Government source revealed to ANI, "... for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives, and misinformation against India, its Army, and security agencies in the backdrop of the tragic Pahlagam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir."

Since the 2016 terror attack on an Indian Army base in Uri, no Pakistani actors have worked in the Indian film industry. Fawad Khan's comeback film, Abir Gulaal, did not release in India. Sources from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that the film, featuring Vaani Kapoor, will not be released in India. Fawad was last seen in Bollywood film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).'

The Pahlagam terror attack on April 22, 2025, targeted tourists, resulting in the tragic loss of 26 lives. Post the Pahlagam terror attack, India has taken decisive action against Pakistan for its alleged support of cross-border terrorism.

Detailed Insights:

The blocking of Pakistani artists' social media accounts in India and the ban on Pakistani YouTube channels are rooted in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The immediate catalyst for these actions was the horrific Pahlagam terror attack that took place on April 22, 2025. India accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, although Pakistan vehemently denied any involvement.

Blockage of Pakistani Artists' Social Media Accounts

Reason: The move to block Pakistani artists' social media accounts, including those of Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly, is part of a broader crackdown on Pakistani content in India[2][3].
Context: The Indian government has ramped up its efforts to restrict what it perceives as "provocative" content from Pakistan amid rising political tensions[4].

Ban on Pakistani YouTube Channels

Reason: The Indian government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including well-known media outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News. The ban was enforced due to the airing of "provocative and communally sensitive content," along with false and misleading narratives against India, its army, and security agencies[2][5].
Context: This action follows a pattern of increased restrictions on Pakistani content in India, especially following significant security incidents like the Pahlagam attack[5].

Both actions reflect an ongoing effort by the Indian government to minimize the influence and visibility of Pakistani media and artists within India, driven by escalating national security concerns and the ongoing tension between the two countries[4][5].

The iconic Pakistani singer Abida Parveen's Instagram account, previously accessible, has been restricted in India, following the same pattern of laws enforced on other Pakistani artists like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar.
The Indian government's crackdown on Pakistani social media content has also extended to YouTube, leading to a ban on channels like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, due to the dissemination of misleading narratives and provocative content against India.
Celebrities like Fawad Khan have also felt the impact of India's increased restrictions, with his film Abir Gulaal not being released in India following the Pahlagam terror attack, as suggested by sources from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The blocking of Pakistani artists' social media accounts and the ban on Pakistani YouTube channels are part of India's ongoing response to the escalating tension with Pakistan, in the context of the Pahlagam terror attack that took the lives of 26 individuals.