In a surprising development, several Pakistani YouTube channels and Instagram accounts, previously blocked in India following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, have quietly become accessible again to Indian users. The move has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with netizens questioning the Indian government’s stance on Pakistan and the outcomes of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military response launched in retaliation to the attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
The Pahalgam attack, attributed to The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, prompted India to impose stringent measures, including a digital crackdown on Pakistani content. YouTube channels such as Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo, along with Instagram accounts of celebrities like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and Ahad Raza Mir, were geo-blocked in India for allegedly spreading misinformation and criticising Operation Sindoor. Youtube accounts of Pakistani cricketers including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali and Rashid Latif were also blocked by the Indian government. Strangely their accounts seemed to be unrestricted in India anymore and open for viewing.
The operation, launched on May 7, targeted nine terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in over 100 terrorist casualties. The sudden reappearance of these platforms, reported as early as July 1, 2025, has led to speculation about a possible rollback of India’s hardline digital policy. However, government sources have attributed the brief accessibility to a “technical glitch,” stating that the accounts were inadvertently unblocked. By July 3, many of these accounts, including those on X, were blocked again, reinforcing India’s ongoing restrictions. Despite this, some YouTube channels and Instagram handles remain accessible, fuelling confusion and debate.
Social media platforms, particularly X, are abuzz with reactions. Some users have expressed outrage, viewing the unblocking as a dilution of India’s firm stance post-Pahalgam. “First you ban them for spreading hate, then quietly bring them back with no explanation. Is this justice for Pahalgam?” one user posted. Others have questioned the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor, with comments like, “India launched #OperationSindoor, suspended the Indus Water Treaty, and now lifts bans on Pakistani content? Absolutely weird.” The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has also renewed its call for a complete ban on Pakistani content, citing the attack and the silence of Pakistani artists as an “emotional assault” on India.
Notably, high-profile celebrities like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir remain blocked in India, indicating a selective approach to the restrictions. However, Afridi or for that matter Akhtar’s YouTube accounts are still accessible, so is ARY digital. The government has not issued an official statement confirming a policy change, leading to further speculation about whether the unblocking signals a shift in diplomatic strategy or a mere oversight. The reappearance of Pakistani content comes amid ongoing tensions, with India maintaining measures like the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and trade with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on may 29, during a public meeting in Alipurduar, West Bengal had claimed “from this sacred land of Sindoor Khela, I want to make it clear once again that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is not over yet”.
