Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan’s Instagram accounts blocked in India

In the latest episode of Indian insecurity over Pakistani media channels, celebrities and influencers’ penetration and popularity among Indian audiences, the country has now blocked the Instagram accounts of star Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.

As per the details, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a ban on a number of Pakistani YouTube channels and social media accounts.

While several accounts, including those of Pakistani news outlets, celebrities and cricketers, were banned over the past 48 hours, now, the Indian government has gone on to block in the country the official social media accounts belonging to incumbent Pakistan captain Rizwan and batting sensation Babar.

Earlier, India also blocked the YouTube channels of former captains Rashid Latif and Shahid Afridi, as well as speedster Shoaib Akhtar and former cricketer Basit Ali.

India has cited “national security concerns” as the reason for blocking the content amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over the deadly Pahalgam attack in held Kashmir last week.

At least 26 tourists were killed in a gun attack on April 22, following which New Delhi continues to hurl baseless allegations against Pakistan. The allegations, which Islamabad has denied with proof, have led to war rhetoric from across the border besides global calls for peace and restraint.