India blocks Instagram accounts of Hania Amir, many other Pakistani actors

As tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the ghastly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, New Delhi on Monday blocked the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani actors Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir Ali Zafar.

 

Those who try to access the profiles of these celebrities now get a message that says: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

 

The move came two days after India banned 16 Pakistan-based YouTube channels including that of cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali. 

 

The Modi government withheld these channels for "disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies".

 

The channels that were banned in India included: Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, ARY NEWS, BOL NEWS, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, SUNO News and Razi Naama.

 

While trying to log in to these channels, the user will get a message that “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order”.

 

According to officials, the Ministry of External Affairs is also monitoring the reporting of the BBC which chose to term terrorists as “militants”.

 

In a missive to BBC India head Jackie Martin, the MEA conveyed the country's strong sentiments over the reporting on the Pahalgam terror attack. 

 

The Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives, has led to a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan with New Delhi alleging cross-border links to the strike.

India