In a significant move on Friday, May 2, 2025, the Indian government banned the Instagram accounts of prominent Pakistani cricketers including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf. This action comes amid heightened tensions following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. The ban is part of a broader crackdown targeting Pakistani social media accounts that have a large following in India.
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, was one of the deadliest in recent years in the Kashmir valley. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers specifically targeted victims based on their religion, escalating outrage and prompting swift government response.
In the aftermath, several Pakistani YouTube channels were already blocked in India for allegedly spreading provocative and misleading content against India and its security forces. Now, the government has extended these restrictions to Instagram, cutting off access to accounts of high-profile Pakistani cricketers and celebrities.
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Among those affected are Pakistan’s cricketing icons Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are widely followed by Indian fans. Alongside them, fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf also saw their Instagram accounts blocked. The ban extends beyond sports, impacting Pakistani actors like Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir, and even Olympic javelin gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, whose Instagram was blocked earlier this week.
Users attempting to access these accounts from India are met with a message stating, “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” The government’s move reflects an effort to curb the dissemination of content deemed harmful to national security and public order.
This digital clampdown follows a series of diplomatic and security measures taken by India in recent weeks, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and closure of the Attari border crossing. The ban on Pakistani social media accounts adds a cultural dimension to the ongoing tensions, severing popular cross-border digital connections.
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