India blocks Mahira, Hania, other top Pakistani celebrities' Instagram accounts

After banning multiple Pakistani YouTube channels, India is now blocking the social media accounts of several well-known Pakistani celebrities.

According to media reports, prominent stars such as Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Sanam Saeed, Iqra Aziz, and Bilal Abbas Khan have had their accounts restricted in India. When Indian users attempt to access these profiles, they are met with a message stating: “This account has been withheld in India in response to a legal request.”

This move is part of a broader effort by the Indian government to block Pakistani content online, following the 22 April Pahalgam attack in Indian-Occupied Kashmir that left 28 people dead. Since then, India has been blaming Pakistan for the incident without presenting concrete evidence.

Reports suggest that more Pakistani artists may face similar bans in the days to come.

Earlier this week, 16 Pakistani YouTube channels were also blocked, including some linked to Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Rashid Latif were among those banned.

While Indian officials claim the actions are meant to protect “national security,” many in Pakistan view it as a clampdown on freedom of expression. Social media users have also raised concerns over what they describe as an increasingly systematic effort to silence Pakistani voices across platforms.