'Pakistan Was, Is, And Will Remain A Terrorist Nation': AICWA Urges PM Modi To 'Impose Complete Ban' On Pakistani Celebrity Social Media Accounts

New Delhi: Pakistani celebrity accounts were blocked again in India a day after the re-emergence of their Instagram and Twitter accounts. Among those blocked are Hania Aamir, Shahid Afridi, and Mahira Khan, among others.

On Thursday, the social media accounts of various well-known Pakistani celebrities were blocked again in India, a day after the bans were removed due to the uproar. By Thursday morning, the Instagram and Twitter accounts of Pakistani celebrities like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mawra Hocane, and Fawad Khan were once again unavailable to users in India. The action comes after a short period on Wednesday when numerous Pakistani YouTube channels and Instagram accounts began to reemerge on social media sites in India.

On July 2, the Instagram profiles of various Pakistani stars, such as Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Fawad Khan, Shahid Afridi, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor, started becoming visible again to Indian users. Moreover, Pakistani YouTube channels like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo are once again available.

Fans observed the unexpected appearance of these profiles, leading to theories that the alleged social media "ban" had subtly been lifted. Now, when users look for the profiles of Pakistani celebrities on Instagram, a pop-up message appears saying: “Account not available in India." This is due to our adherence to a legal request to limit this content."

No Official Response From Centre

Remarkably, the government has not yet released any official statement concerning the reimposition of the ban. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not yet responded to the resurgence and subsequent vanishing of Pakistani channels and celebrity accounts in India, despite the prohibition.

AIWCA Calls For Permanent Ban

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has called for an immediate and permanent ban on the digital presence of Pakistani artists, influencers, and entertainment entities in India. This appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging for imposing a nationwide digital blackout of Pakistani social media and media channels. Prohibit future collaborations with Pakistani citizens in Indian media and declare a permanent cultural disconnect from Pakistan in honor of martyrs.

Citing events such as 26/11 and Pulwama, AICWA holds Pakistan accountable for cross-border terrorism and condemns Pakistani artists for their anti-India sentiments. The organization demands a nationwide digital blackout of Pakistani accounts, a ban on future collaborations with Pakistani citizens in Indian media, and a permanent cultural disconnect from Pakistan to honor martyrs and their families.

Why Are Pakistani Celebrities Banned In India?

The initial restrictions were implemented following increased tensions between India and Pakistan, especially after India's Operation Sindoor, a military initiative aimed at terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK). Numerous Pakistani celebrities openly condemned the operation, resulting in significant backlash and the ensuing geoblocking of their social media profiles in India.