Ban on Pakistani News and Social Media Channels Lifted After Operation Sindoor

Pakistani News and Celebrity Social Media Accounts Reappear in India Despite No Official Word on Ban Lift Lift.

Pakistani news channels and the social media accounts of several celebrities that were banned during India’s Operation Sindoor — a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — have become accessible again, suggesting the restrictions may have been quietly lifted. However, the Indian government has not issued any official statement regarding the reversal.

On Wednesday, Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities such as Saba Qamar, Mawra Hocane, Ahad Raza Mir, Hania Amir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor, which had been blocked in India, were once again visible to users in the country.

Several YouTube channels belonging to Pakistani media houses, including Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo, also became accessible for streaming. These developments mark a shift from the earlier ban imposed in the aftermath of the attack in Baisaran Valley.

Following the terror incident, India had banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels — including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News — citing concerns over misinformation, provocative content, and narratives deemed harmful to national security. These banned channels reportedly had a combined subscriber base of over 63 million in India.

Despite their return online, there is still no official confirmation from authorities regarding whether the ban has been formally lifted or temporarily relaxed.