Several Pakistani celebrities have spoken out after discovering that their Instagram profiles have been blocked in India, following a government request reportedly linked to rising tensions between the two countries after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Indian users attempting to access these accounts are now met with a restriction notice stating: “Your user is unavailable in India because of a legal request, we have to restrict access to your user.”
Actors including Yasir Hussain, Aijaz Aslam, Sajal Aly, and others reacted with humour and criticism on social media.
Mansha Pasha reposted the access warning and commented on how swiftly the ban was implemented.
Ushna Shah light-heartedly blamed her account’s restriction on her tendency to share Pakistan-India memes.
Comedian Ali Gul Pir addressed his Indian audience directly, encouraging them to use VPNs.
Content creator Arslan Naseer jokingly called out Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Modi bro you banned me in India? What’s next? Will you complain to my Ammi?”
Some responses were more pointed. Actor Zhalay Sarhadi called the move “desperate” and questioned its effectiveness. “By banning, what are you trying to prove? Are you scared or something?” she asked, also highlighting the availability of VPN tools.
Other artists, such as Mishi Khan and Hina Altaf, also joined the conversation through skits and Instagram reels, mocking the ban and its broader implications for cultural expression.
