Only days after they had been briefly accessible to Indian users, Instagram accounts belonging to numerous Pakistani celebrities, such as Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Danish Taimoor, and Ahad Raza Mir, have once more been banned in India.

The ban was first put into effect in May, after the terrorist strike in Pahalgam and the ensuing Operation Sindoor. Back then, Indian platforms blocked the social media accounts of Pakistani actors, sportsmen, politicians, and other public figures.

Pakistani celebrities' Instagram accounts blocked once more

However, Indian users discovered on July 1 that some of these accounts, notably those of well-known actors such as Mawra and Yumna, had reappeared, fueling conjecture that the ban may be progressively lifted or changed. However, the accounts were once more geo-restricted by Thursday morning. The typical message that greeted users attempting to access them was, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."

What caused the accounts to be visible?

News18 reported that the reversal came after an emergency internal review by the government, after which the choice was made to reimpose the limitations on Pakistani accounts. Sources told News18 and explained that the brief reappearance of the accounts was caused by a technical fault or delay in enforcement by social media platforms rather than by any change in policy. According to officials, certain accounts may still seem accessible to some users, but these will soon be limited as the problem is being fixed.

AICWA's appeal for a digital blackout

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), which has long advocated for a cultural and digital boycott of Pakistan, reacted angrily to the limited access. The organization sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi denouncing the event as an "insult" to the families of terrorism victims and reiterating its appeal for a long-lasting prohibition on cooperation with Pakistani media outlets and artists.

Calling Pakistan a "terrorist nation," AICWA called for a complete break in cultural relations, pointing to previous terror strikes in locations like Pulwama, Uri, Pahalgam, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

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