Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, the Indian government has banned several Pakistani social media accounts. The attack resulted in the death of 26 Indian tourists.
Arshad Nadeem: The Instagram account of Arshad Nadeem, a Pakistani Olympic javelin thrower, has been blocked in India. Indian users attempting to access his profile receive a legal notice stating that the account is unavailable in India due to a legal request.
This decision follows the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22nd, which claimed 26 lives. In the aftermath, the Indian government, taking a stricter stance on security matters, has banned numerous social media accounts and YouTube channels belonging to Pakistani athletes, cricketers, and artists.
Why Arshad Nadeem?
Arshad Nadeem is a prominent figure in Pakistani sports, having achieved international recognition through outstanding performances in the Olympics and Asian Games. He also had a significant following in India. However, his Instagram account is now inaccessible in the country. Sources suggest this action was taken in the interest of national security, sovereignty, and communal harmony.
While no individual controversy or statement against Arshad Nadeem has surfaced, he was included in the list of banned accounts as part of a collective action.
Legal Basis for Blocking
According to the message displayed on Instagram, a legal request was received to restrict the account. The platform investigated, in accordance with its policies and local laws, and found content deemed unacceptable under Indian law. This message highlights that social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are acting on government legal requests and implementing filtering and blocking policies in line with Indian laws.
Who Else Was Affected?
Arshad Nadeem is not the only one affected. Other Pakistani celebrities whose YouTube channels or social media accounts have been blocked include:
- Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel ShoaibAkhtar100mph
- Basit Ali's YouTube show BasitAliShow
- Rashid Latif and Nouman Niaz's show Caught Behind
- Tanveer Ahmad's channel Tanveer Says
- Wasay and Iffy's YouTube channel Wasay Habib
- Actors Ali Zafar and Mahira Khan, whose Instagram accounts have been blocked.
Increased Stringency After the Pahalgam Attack
The Indian government has described the April 22nd Pahalgam attack as a major conspiracy involving Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Most of the victims were tourists visiting Kashmir. Since the attack, there has been increased scrutiny of digital content linked to Pakistan. According to the Indian government, several Pakistani YouTube channels and social media pages were promoting anti-India propaganda. The decision to block them was taken to safeguard national security, communal harmony, and maintain peace on social media.
The Indian government's position is clear: Misuse of freedom of expression on social media against national interests will result in action. Google's transparency reports also indicate that the Indian government has repeatedly requested the removal of content that could threaten national security or public order.
