Here are the Pakistani artists India has blocked on Spotify

Several Pakistani songs have been removed from Spotify India after the Indian government issued a new advisory earlier this month. The order asked digital platforms to take down all content from Pakistan, including music, films, web series, and podcasts.

The move, which began taking effect on Wednesday night, follows an official directive from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issues on May 8.

Here are some of the names whose songs are no longer available on Spotify India:

Arooj Aftab – Her Grammy-winning songs like Mohabbat and Last Night are missing.

Natasha Noorani & Shajjar – Popular tracks like Faasle and Jhol have been removed.

Zain Zohaib Qawwals – Their well-loved qawwali Maand is no longer available.

Talal Qureshi – A few of his electronic music tracks have also been taken down.

Abida Parveen – Some of her Sufi songs can no longer be streamed in India.

This action follows a directive from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, issued on May 8. It asked all streaming and OTT platforms to remove Pakistani content citing concerns related to national security and public order.

The removal is not limited to music. Posters and promotional images featuring Pakistani actors have also been changed. Actress Mawra Hocane has been removed from the cover of Sanam Teri Kasam on Spotify and YouTube Music. Mahira Khan is no longer seen on Raees posters, and Fawad Khan’s song Buddhu Sa Mann from Kapoor & Sons is not available to Indian users.

Artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Nazia Hassan, and Abida Parveen have played a big role in shaping the music scene in both countries and have a huge fan base across borders.

Meanwhile, tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following the Pahalgam incident in Indian-occupied Kashmir on April 22. In the early hours of May 7, India launched airstrikes in multiple regions of Pakistan, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad, reportedly killing at least 30 civilians and injuring over 40.

In response, Pakistan downed six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, marking the first instance of Rafales being brought down in combat. The following day, more than 30 Indian drones were reportedly shot down across Pakistan.

On the night of May 9, India launched missile strikes on Pakistani airbases. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos at dawn on May 10, targeting several Indian military installations. Key strikes included a BrahMos missile depot in Beas, an airbase in Adampur, and an airfield in Pathankot. Pakistani drones reportedly reached New Delhi, while JF-17 fighter jets destroyed India’s S-400 missile defence system in Adampur.