Pakistani celebrities and popular YouTube channels have made a return to Indian social media platforms, following a temporary ban imposed by India earlier this year.
Among those whose accounts have been reinstated are popular actors Ahad Raza Mir, Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor. Several Pakistani YouTube entertainment and music channels, previously inaccessible to Indian viewers, have also been restored.
The ban had been implemented by the Modi government after it blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident without providing any evidence.
As Pakistan called for an independent international investigation into the incident, the Indian polity called for war against Pakistan.
While the government of Pakistan unbanned the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in April, the Indian government continued to impose a ban on Pakistani content, including sports and entertainment in India.
Senior defence analysts, while talking to Azaad English, stated that the Indian government initiated a massive campaign of disinformation online against Pakistan.
According to experts, the Indian government had created an “eco-chamber” involving Indian media and social media to create a false narrative for its public.
After the Indian government had made these shortsighted policies overnight, the unbanning of Pakistani channels in India has hurt the BJP supporters.
One Indian right-wing extremist account by the name Mr Sinha took to X to write, “I’m still unable to understand why @GoI_MeitY would lift the ban on Pakistani accounts.. There was no public outcry, no international pressure, no human rights angle, absolutely nothing. And yet, the ban was quietly lifted. Why so? What did we gain out of it? The only visible beneficiary of this move is Pakistan. They’ll now earn millions from Indian viewership. Were some babus sitting in IT ministry bribed for it?”
Another BJP supporter and RAW-affiliated propagandist, Aditya Raj Kaul, wrote, “Shahid Afridi YouTube Channel is back online. Shoaib Akhtar as well. Several other Pakistani YouTube channels back online in India. Why this joke with the people of India?”
Fake News Alert: Claims of Shahid Afridi’s instagram story
In an attempt to create anti-Pakistan sentiments among the general public, RAW-affiliated extremists social media accounts have started sharing altered image of renowned cricketer Shahid Afridi’s instagram story.
Indian X user by the name Yanika_Lit posted the altered and flase image with the caption, “Shahid Afridi’s Instagram story After the Indian government unbanned Pakistani YouTube channels: Calling Narendra Modi spineless. I hope Narendra Modi has some spine and will ban them again.”
It merits a mention that there is no such story posted by Shahid Afridi on any of his social media handles.
