Instagram gone, YouTube on? Pakistani celebs blocked again, but are serials still streaming in India? Here's what we found

On Thursday, while social media profiles of Pakistani celebrities were taken down again, new serials from platforms like Hum TV, Har Pal Geo, and ARY Digital were still playing on YouTube when ET checked. However, with growing calls for a full digital and cultural ban, this access may not last long. There is no official word yet on whether these serials will be blocked next, but public sentiment is clearly against allowing any exposure.

Earlier this week, several Pakistani celebrities and media platforms briefly resurfaced on Indian digital space. Instagram accounts of actors like Yumna Zaidi, Mawra Hocane, Ahad Raza Mir, and Saba Qamar became visible.

YouTube channels of cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, along with major entertainment networks like Hum TV and ARY Digital, also reappeared.

But by Thursday morning, the situation changed. The accounts were once again restricted. Users saw the standard message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

AICWA renews demand for total ban

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) intensified its demand for a permanent ban on all Pakistani entertainment content in India. In a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the association called for a complete shutdown, from social media and OTT to all forms of advertising and media collaborations.

Calling the reappearance of Pakistani celebrities “an emotional assault,” AICWA strongly criticised the development. The body referred to major terror attacks including 26/11, Pulwama, Uri, and the recent Pahalgam massacre where 26 civilians lost their lives. It condemned the silence of Pakistani artists and even their alleged anti-India comments after Operation Sindoor.