Social media accounts of Pakistani actors, cricketers banned again in India

Srinagar, July 3: Multiple social media accounts of Pakistani celebrities and YouTube channels that were blocked in India during Operation Sindoor have been temporarily restored. This development comes after a recent government review found that several of these platforms had not shared anti-India content for a significant period.

As reported by the media, Instagram profiles of prominent actors including Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor were once again visible to Indian users on Wednesday. Additionally, YouTube channels belonging to former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were also made accessible.

Entertainment YouTube channels such as Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo, which were previously blocked, were also made streamable in India again.

According to reports the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) intensified its demand for a permanent ban on all Pakistani entertainment content in India. In a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the association called for a complete shutdown, from social media and OTT to all forms of advertising and media collaborations.

Calling the reappearance of Pakistani celebrities “an emotional assault,” AICWA strongly criticised the development. The body referred to major terror attacks including 26/11, Pulwama, Uri, and the recent Pahalgam massacre where 26 civilians lost their lives. It condemned the silence of Pakistani artists and even their alleged anti-India comments after Operation Sindoor.