Pakistani actresses Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan and Others instagram banned in India after Pahalgam attack

synopsis

Image Credit: Social Media

In a firm action in the wake of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has suspended the accounts of several Pakistani celebrities such as Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas Khan, and Iqra Aziz on Instagram. This comes amidst tensions between India and Pakistan with the government giving legal reasons behind blocking access to such accounts.

Why Were These Accounts Suspended?

The block came after the Pahalgam terror attack, which had resulted in the death of some individuals and escalated security fears. The Indian government has been imposing strict restrictions on platforms and individuals that were discovered publishing inflammatory or deceptive content. Some of the clampdown included the blocking of the profiles of these Pakistani stars' in India with a message stating: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."

Celebrities Impacted by the Ban

Many popular Pakistani celebrities and influencers have been impacted by this ban, such as:

Hania Aamir

Mahira Khan

Sajal Aly

Bilal Abbas Khan

Iqra Aziz

But some Pakistani celebrities like Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam still have their Instagram accounts available in India.

Public Reaction & Industry Response

The ban has been met with mixed reactions from fans and stakeholders. While part of the people are embracing the decision by the government as a security measure, others are upset, with the reasoning that entertainment and art should be separated from political tension. The majority of the Indian fans of these Pakistani stars have complained of foul play regarding the loss of their access to news from their icons on social media.

Other Steps Taken by India

Besides suspending the accounts of Instagram, India has also taken other steps, which include:

Suspension of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, which have been charged with sending provocative content.

Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

Cancellation of visas of Pakistani citizens and requesting them to depart within a specified time period.

Another story in the never-ending tense relations between the two countries is the suspension of the Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities in India. Even though the act can be taken as a measure of security, it is accompanied by the issue of politics, entertainment, and cyber freedom convergence. As it goes, followers and observers are still divided over the big picture implications of doing such an action.