In yet another dramatic twist in the ever-turbulent saga of India-Pakistan digital relations, several Pakistani celebrities discovered that their Instagram accounts have been blocked in India — and they’re not staying silent.
The move comes in the aftermath of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the incident, a claim Pakistan has denied. In what appears to be part of a larger digital crackdown, Indian users attempting to view the accounts of several Pakistani public figures are now met with the message: “Your user is unavailable in India… Because of a legal request, we have to restrict access to your user.”
The restriction triggered a flurry of reactions — from memes to mock outrage — as screenshots began circulating widely, particularly of actress Hania Aamir’s inaccessible account.
Actress Mansha Pasha shared a screenshot of the block notice with a deadpan remark: “Well, that took like a millisecond. Oh, well!”
Ushna Shah playfully blamed her own fate on the Indo-Pak memes she had shared, while comedian Ali Gul Pir offered a cheeky workaround for his Indian followers: “Use a VPN if needed. I still love you.”
Actor and content creator Arslan Naseer leaned into the satire, jokingly addressing India’s prime minister: “Modi bro you banned me in India? What’s next? Will you complain to my Ammi?” He later poked fun at Fawad Khan: “Fawad bro, you did one Indian film, the border heats up, and somehow I get banned? You’re like that squirrel from Ice Age.”
Zhalay Sarhadi, less amused, questioned the motive behind the bans. “What are you trying to prove? Are you afraid? Banning people shows desperation. Heard of VPN? It’s quite handy.”
Yasir Hussain added his signature sarcasm: “Pakistanis should respond to these bans with indifference. You don’t argue with embarrassed cats — you ignore them. Let’s be graceful.”
Despite the growing list of blocked accounts, some Pakistani stars remain visible in India. According to the Hindustan Times, Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Mawra Hocane, and the Pasoori duo Ali Sethi and Shae Gill have, so far, escaped the purge.
In contrast, the accounts of Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, and Hania Aamir are now restricted, along with the social media pages of major Pakistani entertainment channels like HUM TV, ARY Digital, and Geo Entertainment. When Indian users attempt to access them, they see a message citing “national security or public order” as the reason for the block.
The crackdown has extended beyond entertainment. Earlier in April, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels — including those run by prominent news outlets — and even blocked the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Pakistani government. Cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel and comedian Shehzad Ghias’s podcast The Pakistan Experience were also swept up in the ban.
While Indian authorities have yet to make an official statement about the latest blocks, the message seems loud and clear: block first, explain later.
Still, Pakistani celebs — armed with VPNs, memes, and their signature sass — seem more amused than alarmed.
