Fawad Khan & Atif Aslam’s Instagram Accounts Blocked in India After the Pahalgam Attack
New Delhi, May 3, 2025 — In a recent move, the Instagram accounts of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and singer Atif Aslam have been restricted for Indian users, joining a growing list of Pakistani celebrities who have faced similar actions. Other notable figures such as Mahira Khan, Hania Amir, and Ali Zafar also saw their social media pages blocked in India after a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam region heightened tensions between the two countries.
The Instagram pages of both Khan and Atif Aslam now display a message that reads: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” This action follows the deadly terrorist attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 25 people—24 Indian citizens and one Nepali tourist. The attack, which occurred in the picturesque Baisaran area of Pahalgam, is believed to have been carried out by the Resistance Front, a shadow group affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror organization.
In response to the attack, India has taken several retaliatory steps, including downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and revoking visa services for Pakistani nationals. The Pakistani government, in turn, has announced countermeasures, including the declaration that any attempt to divert water under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an “Act of War.”
The blockages on social media have intensified the ongoing diplomatic standoff, highlighting how cultural exchanges and public figures are becoming entangled in the political discord. The ban on Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam’s accounts comes at a time when Fawad’s latest film, Abir Gulaal, is also facing an uncertain release due to the escalating tensions. The development has added a new layer to the already strained relationship between the two nations, impacting not only politics but also the entertainment industry.
Diplomacy or Drama?
India has since doubled down with full-on diplomatic disengagement—suspending visas, slamming the Indus Waters Treaty shut, and shutting off airspace. Pakistan responded with the expected outrage, calling any water diversion an “Act of War.”
Meanwhile, back on Instagram, users are asking the real questions: “How does blocking Atif Aslam stop Lashkar-e-Taiba?” Or “What did Fawad Khan do—act too well in ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’?”
With both countries having closed their airspaces and taken other measures in response to the violence, this ongoing diplomatic conflict shows little sign of abating. The situation continues to evolve, and many are left wondering how the cultural landscape will change as these tensions unfold.
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