Pakistani celebrity accounts briefly visible: On July 2, Indian users could access Instagram and YouTube profiles of Pakistani celebrities like Saba Qamar and Ahad Raza Mir due to a technical glitch, despite an existing ban.
Ban reimposed by July 3: The accounts were again restricted with a legal compliance message; officials cited platform delay or a technical error for the temporary visibility.
Ban linked to April terror attack: Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India enforced a digital content ban on May 8 under IT rules, targeting all Pakistani-origin digital media to protect national security and public order.
The Indian government has reinstated a ban on several Pakistani social media accounts after they briefly became accessible due to a technical glitch. On July 2, Indian users were able to view Instagram and YouTube profiles of Pakistani celebrities such as Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Ahad Raza Mir, Hania Amir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor. These accounts had previously been blocked following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
By July 3, the accounts were once again restricted. Users attempting to access them saw the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” According to government officials, the temporary restoration resulted from either a technical error or a delay in compliance by digital platforms, which has now been corrected.
The initial ban, issued on May 8, 2025, was enforced under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. It called for an immediate takedown of Pakistani-origin content across digital and OTT platforms, citing concerns over national security, public order, and India's sovereignty. The directive covered all forms of digital media, including web series, songs, films, and podcasts.
The brief visibility of the blocked accounts drew criticism from several quarters. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) condemned the lapse and reiterated its demand for a complete digital and cultural disengagement with Pakistan.
Authorities have confirmed that the ban remains in full force, and any Pakistani accounts still accessible in India will be blocked as platform compliance is brought up to date.