Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and singer Atif Aslam can no longer be accessed on Instagram by users in India. Their accounts, along with several other Pakistani celebrities’, have been geo-restricted in response to recent developments, particularly after the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives and left many injured.
Instagram cites legal compliance for restriction
When attempting to visit the Instagram profiles of Fawad or Atif from India, a notice appears stating, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The message further adds, “We received a legal request to restrict this content. We reviewed it against our policies and conducted a legal and human rights assessment. After the review, we restricted access to the content in the location where it goes against local law.”
More Pakistani artists affected by restrictions
Besides Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam, other popular Pakistani celebrities including Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly have also had their Instagram accounts blocked in India. All of them have a significant fan following among Indian audiences.
YouTube channels also face bans
This wave of restrictions is not limited to Instagram. According to government sources, India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels. These channels were reportedly spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and false narratives that targeted India, its Army, and its security forces.
Boycott calls for Fawad Khan’s upcoming Bollywood release
In addition to the digital restrictions, Fawad Khan’s upcoming Bollywood film — which was scheduled for release on May 9 — has faced boycott calls in India. This reflects the heightened tensions between the two countries following the recent terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir.
