In response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government has escalated its crackdown on Pakistani nationals, blocking several Instagram accounts of Pakistani artists for users in India.
The accounts of well-known actors Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan are no longer accessible, displaying a message that reads- “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The Indian government’s move follows the growing tension between India and Pakistan after the deadly Pahalgam attack, where at least 26 tourists, including several foreign nationals, were killed by terrorists allegedly backed by Pakistan.
The attack, which occurred in the Baisaran Valley, raised fears of escalating violence, and India has responded with significant diplomatic and security measures, including digital restrictions.
While Instagram has blocked the accounts of certain Pakistani celebrities, the account of actor Fawad Khan remains accessible to Indian users.
Similarly, the Instagram profiles of ‘Pasoori’ hitmakers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill remain visible, raising questions about whether authorities are selectively enforcing the block or if certain accounts are lagging in the enforcement process.
The issue has sparked debates on the geopolitical and digital censorship landscape.
The attack in Pahalgam has pushed already-strained relations between India and Pakistan to a breaking point.
The terrorists allegedly used second-generation phones and SMS to evade modern surveillance, with one attacker, a former Pakistani commando, still on the run.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the investigation into the incident.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the Indian Defence Forces a free hand to decide on the mode, time, and nature of retaliation against Pakistan.
This move comes in the wake of India’s long-standing grievances regarding Pakistan’s history of supporting terrorist activities on Indian soil.
The attack in Pahalgam is just the latest in a series of events linked to Pakistan’s role in global terrorism.
Pakistan has linked itself to numerous high-profile terrorist incidents worldwide, from its involvement in the 2008 and 2011 embassy attacks in Kabul to the 2005 bombings in London.
India continues to gather evidence to expose Pakistan’s deadly terror network.
Meanwhile, Iran, which shares a western border with Pakistan, has offered to mediate peace talks between India and Pakistan, suggesting a potential shift in regional diplomacy.
India’s move to block the social media accounts of Pakistani celebrities reflects the broader tensions between the two nations and signals a tightening of digital borders in addition to physical ones.
As the situation continues to evolve, the digital restrictions are likely to have long-lasting effects on the cultural and diplomatic exchange between India and Pakistan.
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