India has lifted the ban on Pakistani YouTube channels and artists’ social media accounts, giving Indian viewers again access to Pakistani content.
Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi and Danish Taimoor are among the celebrities whose accounts are reinstated.
However, several accounts are still inaccessible to Indian users, including Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Wahaj Ali, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir.
After the April 22 shooting, targeting tourists in Pahagam, located in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and left 26 civilians dead, India had imposed restrictions on Pakistani YouTube channels and social media profiles from several Pakistani actors and celebrities. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further in May as Pakistan Air Force shot down six Indian jets in retaliation for missile attacks on its territory.
The conflict also disturbed the release of Fawad Khan’s film Abir Gulaalwith Vaani Kapoor starring a ban.
Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane were also removed from Bollywood film posters on streaming platforms.
Read: Instagram -Reports about Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar blocked in India
Users of Indian social media confirmed that the ban has been lifted by sharing screens of previously blocked Pakistani channels and accounts.
Not even 3 months into the ban and Pakistani channels are back, many Pakistani actresses’ insta accounts, pic.twitter.com/j0vscz50ZG
– Betag (@Theprayagtiwari) July 2, 2025
Before it became Indian users who tried to see the profiles of Pakistani actors met with a message of: “Account not available in India. This is because we met a legal request to limit this content”.
More Indian media including India today and Hindustan TimesAlso reported the cancellation of the ban, confirming that access to Pakistani Youtube channels and some celebrity instagram accounts have been restored.
Previous, Sardaar Ji 3A Punjabi horror comedy starring Diljit Dosanjh, became the center of controversy due to Hania Aamir’s commitment.
The Federation of Western India Cine staff (FWICE) and Film Federation of India had reportedly called on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to block the film’s release due to her commitment.
Prior to the film’s international release, actress Neeru Bajwa reportedly followed Hania on Instagram and removed all promotional content related to the film from her profile.
Many people interpreted it as a response to growing criticism in India over the inclusion of a Pakistani actor, especially in the midst of renewed nationalist mood after the Pahagam attack in IIOJK.
