Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s Instagram Accounts Blocked In India
In a striking escalation of digital and diplomatic fallout following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, India has geo-blocked Instagram accounts of prominent Pakistani celebrities including actor Fawad Khan and singers Atif Aslam and Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This move follows a similar restriction imposed a day earlier on the accounts of Pakistani stars Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar — all of whom enjoy substantial popularity among Indian audiences.
When Indian users attempt to access these Instagram profiles, they are met with the following message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The action is seen as part of a broader response to increasing tensions between the two countries after a brutal terrorist ambush in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people — 25 of whom were tourists — during what should have been a peaceful vacation in the scenic Baisaran grasslands. The attack, carried out by a group of heavily armed terrorists, has been described as one of the deadliest incidents since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In addition to Fawad, Atif, and Rahat, several other high-profile Pakistani entertainers have had their Instagram accounts blocked in India. These include actors Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly — all of whom have significant fan followings across the border and have been a part of widely appreciated TV dramas and films consumed on Indian OTT platforms.
The crackdown isn’t limited to Instagram. Just days ago, the Indian government issued orders to block 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including reputed media outlets like Dawn News, Geo News, ARY News, and Samaa TV. The move was justified on grounds of national security, citing the spread of “provocative, communally sensitive content and misinformation targeting India.”
This growing digital clampdown has also spilled into Bollywood. Abir Gulaal, a much-anticipated Indo-Pak collaboration starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, has reportedly been stalled. Sources told that the movie, which was originally slated for a May 9 theatrical release in India, will no longer be permitted to release. The decision comes amid rising public sentiment against the inclusion of Pakistani artists in Indian cinema, a debate that resurfaces every time Indo-Pak tensions flare.
Fawad Khan, who made a mark with his roles in Khoobsurat, Kapoor & Sons, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, had become a poster boy of cross-border cinematic collaboration. His return to Bollywood through Abir Gulaal had been seen as a hopeful sign of rekindled cultural exchange. However, the recent developments cast a shadow on not only his film but also on the future of cross-border creative partnerships.
Similarly, singers like Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, whose voices have graced countless Indian chartbusters, now find themselves digitally erased from the Indian landscape — a development that has disappointed many fans but aligns with a larger political climate.
While no official statement has been issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry yet, the series of restrictions and bans indicate a rapidly hardening stance on Pakistan-linked media, content, and artists. Industry insiders and experts suggest that such actions might become more commonplace as geopolitical tensions translate into cultural boycotts.
