Following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd, 2025, which resulted in the death of 26 tourists, the Indian government has reportedly taken measures to restrict access to social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities within India.
As of today, May 1, 2025, Instagram accounts of prominent Pakistani actors Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan, along with others including Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas Khan, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly, are no longer accessible to users in India. When Indian users attempt to view their profiles, a message appears stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
While the specific reasons behind this action have not been officially disclosed by the Indian government or Instagram, it is widely speculated that this move is a direct response to the recent surge in tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. India has strongly condemned the attack and has indicated the involvement of terrorist groups based in Pakistan. This action on social media follows a similar measure taken recently where the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading misinformation and anti-India content.
The restriction of these celebrity accounts is seen by many as a symbolic gesture reflecting the strained relationship and a potential effort to limit the reach of Pakistani voices in the Indian digital space following the incident.
Regarding Hania Aamir’s last Instagram story before her account became inaccessible in India, a particular screenshot has been widely circulated across social media platforms. This purported story allegedly shows Hania Aamir criticizing Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, for the Pahalgam attack and appealing directly to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The text in the widely shared screenshot of the alleged story reads:
“Just because of General Asim Munir’s actions in Kashmir, the entire Pakistani entertainment industry has been banned in India, and even social media accounts are being restricted. What kind of justice is this? We, the artists, have always wanted peace and good relations with India. We have always condemned terrorism.
I respectfully request the Prime Minister of India: we, the common people of Pakistan, have done nothing wrong to India. It is the Pakistani army and Islamist terrorists who are behind the Pahalgam terrorist attack. So why are you punishing ordinary Pakistanis? Please take action against the Pakistani army and the terrorists, not the innocent citizens. We also want peace.”
However, the authenticity of this purported Instagram story is highly questionable. Numerous netizens and media outlets have raised doubts about its validity, suggesting it could be a fabricated or Photoshopped image. Several users have pointed out inconsistencies in the formatting and language used in the screenshot, claiming it doesn’t align with Hania Aamir’s usual style of communication on social media.
As of the current time, Hania Aamir has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of this viral screenshot. There has been no official statement from her or her representatives regarding this alleged Instagram story. Therefore, while it is confirmed that her Instagram account, along with Mahira Khan’s and others, is currently blocked for users in India, the details and veracity of the widely circulated “last story” remain unverified and are largely suspected to be fake.
This incident underscores the impact of geopolitical tensions on the digital sphere and the complex relationship between the entertainment industries of India and Pakistan. It also highlights the challenges of verifying information and the rapid spread of potentially false narratives on social media platforms, especially during sensitive times.