India blocks Instagram accounts of Hania Amir, Mahira Khan, other celebs

Amid rising tensions following the recent attack in Pahalgam, Indian authorities have restricted access to Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar.

Visitors to their profiles in India now see a message stating the content is unavailable due to a legal request.

The move follows India’s recent ban on 16 Pakistan-based YouTube channels, such as those operated by former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali, as well as major Pakistani media outlets like Dawn News, ARY News, and Geo News.

Users attempting to access the blocked channels are shown a message that the content is unavailable in the country due to a government order.

Read more: US, Russia urge Pakistan and India to de-escalate tensions, seek peaceful resolution

The Pahalgam attack, which left 26 people dead—mostly tourists—has significantly escalated diplomatic and media-level tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India has linked the incident to alleged cross-border elements, a claim Pakistan has denied.

In a high-stakes press conference on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, accompanied by Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, issued a strong rebuttal to India's allegations linking Pakistan to the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Dar categorically rejected the accusations, stating, “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. No cause or objective can justify the killing of innocent people.