Ban on Pak news and social media channels, imposed during Op Sindoor, reversed

New Delhi: Pakistani news channels and social media accounts of celebrities that were banned during India’s Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack have appeared again, suggesting that the restrictions have been lifted. However, no official announcement lifting the ban has been made by the government so far.

The Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including those of Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Ahad Raza Mir, Hania Amir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor, among others, which were banned by the government in a move to resent the April 22 attack, started becoming visible in India on Wednesday.

Even many YouTube channels run by Pakistani news media outlets like Hum TV, ARY Digital and Har Pal Geo were also made available to be streamed again.

Days after the attack in the Baisaran Valley, India had banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News and Geo News, for reportedly spreading misinformation against India.

The YouTube channels were also banned from streaming in the country for churning out provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives against India, the Army and its security agencies. The banned channels had a subscriber base of 63 million in India.

Following the ban, several Indian users opted for access to Pakistani celebrities’ social media accounts through VPN services.

Among the celebrities who remained at the heart of this quiet digital reunion was the widely-loved actor Hania Aamir, who is again in the news in India owing to her role in Dilijit Dosanjh-starrer ‘Sardaar Ji 3’.

The makers of the movie received major backlash for starring Aamir amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, following the military conflict between the two countries last month. However, the makers clarified that Aamir was cast in the film before the hostilities began.

This comes hours after the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a complete ban on Pakistani channels and social media accounts in India.

The letter appealed to the government to respect the lives lost in the Pahalgam attack earlier this year. It also mentioned that “Cutting off Pakistan completely will have zero negative impact on our economy or entertainment industry”.