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In a move that has triggered a wave of disappointment among Indian fans, social media pages for major Pakistani entertainment channels, including HUM TV, ARY Digital and Geo Entertainment, have been made inaccessible in India, marking yet another escalation in the ongoing digital clampdown on cross-border content. Indian media have also reported that a number of celebrity Instagram accounts have been blocked in the country.

This means Indian fans aren’t able to watch their favourite dramas or check the pages of their favourite celebrities.

The latest restrictions follow the earlier banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels and several news outlets after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam of India-occupied Kashmir, which killed 26 people for which India blames Pakistan. For its part, Pakistan has denied any involvement.

The Indian government has not officially announced the ban. However, when fans attempt to open Pakistani entertainment channel pages, they are unable to do so, getting an error message saying, “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.”

The Times of India reported that several celebrity accounts were inaccessible in India, including those belonging to Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar.

When Indian users try to access these accounts, they see a message stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) lit up with laments, as users shared screenshots of the error message.

One distraught user posted, “They banned [HUM TV] in India. Now how will I watch my favourite Pak shows,” adding, “Such a pathetic government.” Another wrote with dismay, “Not India banning [HUM TV] on both Instagram and YouTube,” accompanied by crying emojis.

Others joked ruefully about needing VPNs to keep up with shows like Humraaz, while some directed their frustration toward HUM TV producers. “Dear Momina,” a Pakistani fan wrote to producer Momina Duraid, “Revenge drama/film please (we can crowd-fund it). We will kidnap Fawad and bring him here, and Yumna Zaidi and Hania Aamir… Anyone (Sajal still looks like his daughter).”

For many, Pakistani dramas are not just entertainment but a cherished cultural bridge between two countries. Often praised for their realism and writing, these dramas have cultivated a loyal audience across India, particularly hits like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Humsafar, Mere Humsafar, and Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi.

As one user pointed out: “HUM TV Pakistan is officially pulled down by India. Allowing people to unite via art could be such a dangerous idea no?”

Yet, not all reactions were mournful. Some users expressed pride in the clampdown, celebrating what they saw as a long-overdue action. “Nuked their drama industry, both ARY DIGITAL and HUM TV have been banned,” one user wrote.

Another mocked fans of Pakistani content: “Big breaking! After Pakistani news channels now. Pakistan’s all GEC channels including Geo Entertainment, HUM TV, ARY Digital and others banned in India! These Pakistani drama lovers, what will they do now? Jobless.”

Earlier, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it was blocking 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those run by Dawn, ARY, and Samaa, as well as independent journalists and even cricket and podcast creators.

The justification was the alleged dissemination of “false narratives” and “provocative” content, though no public evidence has been presented. Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack and called for a neutral probe.

Among the content creators affected was Shehzad Ghias, whose podcast The Pakistan Experience was also banned.

The removal of entertainment content marks a new chapter in India’s censorship. Drama serials in Pakistan such as Mere Paas Tum Ho or Parizaad rarely contain overt political messaging and a ban being imposed on them suggests a broader hostility toward cross-border cultural engagement.