India Silently Unbans Pakistani Stars But Only the ‘B-List’?

News Desk

Islamabad/New Delhi: In a quiet and unannounced move, India has partially lifted the digital ban on several Pakistani celebrities and entertainment platforms, which had been imposed following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that left at least 26 civilians dead.

The deadly incident had sparked heightened tensions and military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Several Indian users on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have reported renewed access to previously blocked Pakistani Instagram accounts and YouTube channels. Among those whose accounts appear to have been restored are actors Yumna Zaidi, Dananeer Mobeen, Ahad Raza Mir, Azaan Sami Khan, Mawra Hocane, Ameer Gilani, and Danish Taimoor.

Additionally, Indian netizens noted that YouTube channels of at least three major Pakistani entertainment outlets were once again accessible. Despite the restoration of access to some content, several prominent celebrities’ accounts remain blocked, including those of Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Atif Aslam.

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The Indian government has made no official announcement regarding the restoration of these accounts, leading to speculation that the move may have been due to technical glitches or algorithmic changes on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

The inconsistency in lifting the ban has stirred debate online. While some users welcomed the move, others questioned why access was restored only for certain celebrities. “Looks like they’ve only unbanned the B-list stars; the big names are still blocked,” one user commented, reflecting growing online scepticism about the motivations behind the selective unblocking.

The digital blackout was originally enforced after the Pahalgam incident, amid a surge in hostilities between the two countries. In retaliation for the alleged attack, India launched strikes on six civilian sites inside Pakistan on May 7, including mosques and residential areas in Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad, causing significant structural damage.

The strikes were widely condemned in Pakistan, including by members of the entertainment fraternity. Celebrities such as Fahad Mustafa, Hina Altaf, Hina Khwaja Bayat, Minal Khan, and Ushna Shah publicly denounced the Indian aggression, joining others who voiced solidarity with affected civilians.

The partial lifting of the digital ban comes amid an uneasy calm following weeks of escalations, but with no formal diplomatic progress reported between Islamabad and New Delhi.