India has quietly reversed its earlier ban on certain Pakistani content, allowing access once more to some Instagram profiles and YouTube channels of Pakistani celebrities and media outlets.
📱 Instagram Accounts Restored
Previously inaccessible in India were accounts like Shahid Afridi, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Danish Taimoor. These have now been restored, while high-profile figures like Fawad Khan, Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, and Babar Azam remain restricted reddit.com+15theweek.in+15images.dawn.com+15.
🎥 YouTube Channels Back Online
Alongside Instagram, several Pakistani YouTube channels have also been unblocked, marking a partial easing of the digital restrictions imposed earlier this year .
Why the Shift?
The initial bans, introduced after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, were tied to accusations of “provocative” content and national security concerns, affecting Instagram, YouTube, and news portals economictimes.indiatimes.com+6images.dawn.com+6images.dawn.com+6. The partial lift suggests a selective rollback—perhaps due to public backlash and acknowledgment of cultural ties—though many prominent figures remain blocked.
Public & Celebrity Reactions
Indian netizens welcomed the partial restoration, and Pakistani celebrities—who responded to the bans with humor and sarcasm—commented on the ongoing digital tug-of-war. However, many question why access remains denied to top-tier stars reddit.com+15theweek.in+15images.dawn.com+15images.dawn.com.
In sum, India’s move to partially reverse the digital clampdown signals a softening in cultural censorship. Still, significant restrictions remain, and the broader normalization of cross-border content hangs in the balance.
