Published: May 02, 2025, 05:38 PM (IST)
Edited: May 02, 2025, 05:38 PM (IST)
The Instagram accounts of Pakistan cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were blocked following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Along with popular actors Hania Amir and Ali Fazal, Pakistani cricketers Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi had their accounts suspended. Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem’s account was also blocked on Thursday.
The move to block these social media accounts came in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in several fatalities and stands as one of the deadliest incidents in the valley in recent times.
Users trying to visit Babar or Rizwan’s Instagram profile from India are greeted with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
On April 22, terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, killing 26 people most of them tourists and injuring several others. In response, the government has launched a crackdown on Pakistani social media accounts with a significant following in India.
Earlier several Youtube channel was also restricted in India, including Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Shahid Afridi. “Disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies”.
Interestingly, while their YouTube content is no longer accessible, their Instagram accounts are still active, unlike Nadeem’s, Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi.
