Atif Aslam, Fawad Khan Among Six Other Pakistan Celebrities Account Banned In India Following Pahalgam Terror Attack

May 2, 2025: Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 28 lives, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply. One of the significant cultural ripple effects of this development is the blocking of several Pakistani Instagram accounts and YouTube channels in India — including the profiles of widely popular celebrities Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam.

Until recently, Fawad and Atif’s Instagram accounts remained accessible in India, sparking surprise and debate online. However, users now see a message that reads, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content,” indicating a formal government-led restriction.

Instagram’s notice further explains:

Both Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam have enjoyed immense stardom in India. Fawad starred in hit Bollywood films like Khoobsurat, Kapoor & Sons, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, while Atif has delivered decades of chart-topping tracks including Jeena Jeena, Tere Bin, and Pehli Nazar Mein.

Fawad Khan was also expected to make a comeback in Bollywood with the film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Vaani Kapoor. However, the backlash against Pakistani artists intensified in light of the recent attack. Indian film federations have openly opposed cross-border collaborations.

Other Celebrities are: Maya Ali, Yumna Zaidi, Sajal Ali, Firoz Khan, Farhan Saeed, Eijaz Aslam

Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association, voiced strong opposition:

“This incident is an act of war… We have requested, with folded hands, not to work with Pakistanis. People hide behind the label of ‘artist’ or ‘community’, but the nation must come first.”

As bilateral relations remain strained, digital restrictions and industry-level boycotts reflect a growing cultural and political divide between the two nations.