Several Pakistani Actors’ Instagram Accounts Now Accessible in India Again

In a surprising digital shift, several Instagram accounts of popular Pakistani actors, previously restricted for Indian users, have now become visible again. Among the accounts that have been restored are those of Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, and Danish Taimoor.

This partial reversal comes weeks after a complete digital blackout was imposed in India against Pakistani celebrities and media following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian citizens. As part of the response, access to content from several Pakistani artists was restricted across social media platforms and entertainment channels.

However, starting July 1, Indian Instagram users began reporting access to some of these accounts. Screenshots of visible profiles quickly circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, sparking curiosity and renewed conversation around the digital ban. A user posted, “I can see Mawra Hocane’s profile now. Is the ban slowly being lifted?”

While Yumna Zaidi, Mawra Hocane, and Ahad Raza Mir’s accounts are back online for Indian users, access to accounts of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan, and Atif Aslam remains blocked.

In addition to social media, several users claimed that YouTube channels of major Pakistani broadcasters like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo have also become accessible again, further fueling speculation of a quiet rollback.

The digital blackout had originally sparked backlash from both sides of the border, especially as singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh came under fire for casting Hania Aamir in his latest film Sardaar Ji 3. The film, despite not releasing in India due to the ban, has been a major overseas success.

As of now, there has been no official statement from the Indian government or Meta (Instagram’s parent company) regarding this selective restoration. Whether this signals a gradual softening of the ban or merely a technical update remains to be seen.

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