Following the deadly Pahalgam terror strike, Instagram profiles of stars like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar go dark in India amid a wave of diplomatic and digital retaliation.
New Delhi, May-1:
In the latest fallout from the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead, India has blocked the Instagram accounts of several prominent Pakistani celebrities, including Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar. The move comes just days after the Indian government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for promoting provocative and communally sensitive content.
Also Read: Pakistan’s Terror Network: From Kashmir to Kabul and the World
The social media restrictions appear to be part of a broader strategy of digital disengagement from Pakistan, following what India has described as Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.
On April 23, terrorists targeted Indian and Nepali tourists vacationing in Pahalgam, a scenic hill town in Jammu and Kashmir, executing them at close range after allegedly singling them out based on religion. The attack has sparked nationwide outrage and intensified India’s diplomatic offensive against Islamabad.
Also Read: India Closes Airspace to Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions Post-Kashmir Terror Attack
Public Reaction and Artist Statements:
Hania Aamir, popular in India for her roles in Pakistani dramas like Mere Humsafar and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, had shared a message of grief on the attack:
“My heart is with the innocent lives affected by the recent events… No matter where we come from, grief speaks the same language. May we choose humanity, always.”
Despite her neutral and empathetic tone, her Instagram account has been restricted from Indian access, along with those of fellow Pakistani actors.
Mahira Khan, who starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees (2017), also found her account blocked. Since the 2016 Uri terror attack, no Pakistani actor has been allowed to work in India, and this latest move further cements the freeze on cultural collaboration.
Wider Retaliation Measures:
India’s response to the Pahalgam killings has included a raft of actions:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty,
- Closure of the Attari-Wagah border,
- Downgrading of diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
In retaliation, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, suspended all trade—including via third countries—and warned that any attempt to block water under the Indus Treaty would be viewed as an “act of war.”
As tensions mount, digital censorship and public diplomacy have emerged as key tools in India’s post-attack strategy.
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Pahalgam terror attack, India Pakistan tensions, Hania Aamir Instagram ban, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, digital retaliation, Indus Waters Treaty, social media censorship, Indian foreign policy, Bollywood-Pakistan relations