New Delhi [India], May 5: The Instagram account of legendary Pakistani singer Abida Parveen is no longer accessible in India, joining a growing list of Pakistani public figures whose social media presence has been restricted in the country.
When attempting to access her profile, Indian users are met with a message from Instagram stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The development follows recent restrictions on the Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities such as Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar.
These actions come in the wake of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people, including tourists. In response, India has stepped up measures against what it describes as “provocative and communally sensitive” content originating from Pakistan.
Acting on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Indian government had previously banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading misinformation and false narratives targeting India and its security forces.
“No Pakistani actors have worked in the Indian film industry since 2016, following the Uri attack,” a government source said, referencing the post-attack ban on cross-border collaborations.
This ban also impacted the release of Abir Gulaal, a recent film featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor. Sources in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that the film will not be released in India. Fawad Khan’s last Bollywood appearance was in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).
India’s latest measures underscore a tightening media policy in the aftermath of cross-border violence and perceived threats to national security.