The Instagram accounts of Pakistan cricket team stars were blocked in India following the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam. Pakistan cricketers like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi had their accounts blocked in India alongside popular actors and actresses like Hania Aamir and Ali Fazal. Even the Instagram account of Olympic gold medalist javellin thrower Arshad Nadeem was blocked on Thursday. The decision to block these social media accounts was taken following the terrorist strike in Pahalgam that led to multiple deaths – marking one of the deadliest strikes in the valley in recent past.
Users attempting to access Nadeem’s Instagram page from India are met with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir on April 22. The government has since cracked down on Pakistani social media accounts that have large following in India.
Earlier this week, several Pakistani YouTube channels were also restricted in India for “disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies”.
Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Shahid Afridi were among those whose YouTube accounts were withheld.
Interestingly, while their YouTube content is no longer accessible, their Instagram accounts remain available, unlike Nadeem’s.
The Instagram accounts of current Pakistan cricketers including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheed Afridi are also accessible.
Other prominent Pakistani celebrities, including actors Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar, have also seen their Instagram accounts blocked in India.
Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris Olympics after upstaging Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra, had been invited by the latter to participate in the inaugural NC Classic javelin event scheduled for May 24 in Bengaluru.
However, he declined the invitation, citing prior commitments.
(With PTI inputs)
Topics mentioned in this article
