SRINAGAR: In the latest development following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Instagram account of iconic Pakistani Sufi singer Abida Parveen is no longer accessible in India. The move comes amid a broader digital crackdown by Indian authorities on Pakistani content deemed provocative or sensitive in nature.
Visitors trying to access Abida Parveen’s official Instagram page from India are now greeted with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” Her account is the latest among several Pakistani celebrity profiles—including those of actors Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar—to be blocked in India.
The restrictions follow the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, including tourists, were killed. In the wake of the incident, the Indian government has intensified its action against what it describes as online content promoting false narratives, communal disharmony, or glorification of terrorism.
Based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), India has already banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading misinformation and inciting communal tensions.
This digital clampdown has coincided with a continued unofficial freeze on cultural exchanges between the two countries. Since the 2016 Uri terror attack, Pakistani actors have not worked in Indian films. Recent reports also confirmed that the songs from Fawad Khan’s comeback film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Vaani Kapoor, have been removed from Indian platforms, and the film itself will not be released in India.
