NEW DELHI: In a sharp escalation of post-attack measures, India has blocked access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and restricted the Instagram profiles of popular Pakistani entertainers Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam for users in India. The moves come in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed twenty-six lives and reignited diplomatic and digital tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The restriction on Imran Khan’s X account was discovered on Saturday, days after the former prime minister posted a message condemning the attack as “disturbing and tragic” while also warning India against what he called “irresponsible behaviour.” Drawing parallels with the 2019 Pulwama terror strike, Khan alleged that India was once again blaming Pakistan without substantiating its claims. He further accused India of pursuing an RSS-driven ideology and oppressing Kashmiris, claiming that such actions have only intensified resistance in the region.
Khan headed Pakistan when the Balakot airstrikes took place. He presided over the decision to send the captured IAF pilot home.
The move to block his account is part of a broader response by New Delhi, which has included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, halting visa services for Pakistani nationals, and expelling senior Pakistani diplomats. Pakistan, in turn, has warned that any diversion of water under the Indus pact would be viewed as an responded with countermeasures of its own, including reciprocal airspace closures.
Meanwhile, Indian users trying to access the Instagram accounts of Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam on Friday were greeted with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” The action against the two celebrated artists follows similar restrictions on other Pakistani figures such as Mahira Khan, Hania Amir and Ali Zafar.
Fawad Khan, known for Bollywood films like Khoobsurat and Kapoor & Sons, has also seen the release of his latest film Abir Gulaal stall amid the diplomatic strain. Atif Aslam, who rose to fame with hit Bollywood tracks like Tu Jaane Na and Pehli Nazar Mein, has also been among those whose work has faced increasing censorship in India in recent years.
The crackdown comes in the aftermath of the attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley — often called ‘mini Switzerland’ — which killed 25 tourists, including a Nepali citizen and a resident.
As relations between India and Pakistan plunge to a new low, the digital space has emerged as a new theatre of confrontation, reflecting the hardening of positions on both sides in the wake of the Valley’s deadliest attack since Pulwama.
Interestingly, the personal Twitter account of Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, has been suspended, reportedly following a complaint by Indian authorities, according to ARY News and The Express Tribune.
