ISLAMABAD: India has blocked access to several popular Pakistani entertainment channels on YouTube in the wake of the 22 April attack in Pahalgam.
The move, reportedly carried out on the recommendation of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, has sparked concern among fans and content creators alike.
These channels — including ARY Digital, Har Pal Geo, and Hum TV — had built a significant following across India over the years, now display the message: “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.”
The decision affected millions of Indian viewers who had come to appreciate Pakistani dramas for their emotional depth, relatable storylines, and tightly structured episodes.
In a related development, Instagram has also restricted access to the accounts of several Pakistani celebrities and influencers for users in India, following a legal request linked to content regulation.
Affected actors
Those impacted include actress Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and singer-actor Ali Zafar. Indian users attempting to view their profiles are met with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
This action is in line with earlier measures taken by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which had previously blocked several Pakistani YouTube news channels.
These included major outlets such as Express News, Dawn News, Geo News, Samaa TV, and ARY News, as well as content creators like former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar.
