India reverses ban on Pakistani channels and celebrities' accounts
India has lifted the ban on Pakistani YouTube channels and artists' social media accounts, allowing Indian viewers to once again access to Pakistani content.
Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi and Danish Taimoor are among the celebrities whose accounts have been reinstated.
However, several accounts are still inaccessible to Indian users, including those of Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Wahaj Ali, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir.
After the April 22 shooting, which targeted tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and left 26 civilians dead, India had imposed restrictions on Pakistani YouTube channels and the social media profiles of several Pakistani actors and celebrities. Tensions between India and Pakistan further escalated in May when the Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian jets in retaliation for missile strikes on its territory.
The conflict also disrupted the release of Fawad Khan's film Abir Gulaal, starring Vaani Kapoor, with a ban.
Posters featuring Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane were also removed from Bollywood movie posters on streaming platforms.
Read: Instagram accounts of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar blocked in India
Indian social media users confirmed that the ban has been lifted by sharing screenshots of previously blocked Pakistani channels and accounts.
Not even 3 months into the ban and Pakistani channels are back, many Pakistani actresses' Insta accounts unbanned in India, reports say India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match in September 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/j0vScZ50zg — Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) July 2, 2025
Before that, Indian users attempting to view the profiles of Pakistani actors were met with a message stating: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content'.
Several Indian media outlets, including India Today and Hindustan Times, also reported the lifting of the ban, confirming that access to Pakistani YouTube channels and some celebrity Instagram accounts has been restored.
Earlier, Sardaar Ji 3, a Punjabi horror-comedy starring Diljit Dosanjh, became the center of controversy due to Hania Aamir's involvement.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the Film Federation of India had reportedly urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to block the film's release due to her involvement.
Ahead of the film's international release, actress Neeru Bajwa reportedly unfollowed Hania on Instagram and removed all promotional content related to the movie from her profile.
Many interpreted it as a response to growing criticism in India over the inclusion of a Pakistani actor, especially amid renewed nationalist sentiment following the Pahalgam attack in IIOJK.
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