Overview

• The Indian government has blocked Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities including Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, and Abida Parveen, citing national security concerns after the Pahalgam terror attack.
• This move follows earlier restrictions on other Pakistani stars like Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar, whose accounts were blocked on April 30.
• The Bollywood release of Fawad Khan's upcoming film 'Abir Gulaal,' originally slated for May 9, has been canceled in India as part of the cultural boycott.
• The crackdown also includes bans on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, extending the digital restrictions to political figures and media outlets.
• This escalation marks a significant disruption of cross-border entertainment collaborations, impacting fan engagement and longstanding Bollywood ties with Pakistani artists.