In the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, India and Pakistan have engaged in a series of retaliatory cultural measures.
India’s Actions:
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Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty: India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant bilateral agreement concerning water sharing between the two nations.
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Ban on Pakistani Media Channels: The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including prominent outlets such as Samaa TV, ARY News, Dawn News, and Geo News, citing the dissemination of provocative and false content.
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Blocking of Pakistani Celebrities’ Instagram Accounts: Access to the Instagram accounts of Pakistani actors, including Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan, has been restricted for users in India.
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Cancellation of Fawad Khan’s Movie Release: The release of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s movie, scheduled for May 9 in India, has been halted.
Pakistan’s Response:
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Ban on Indian Songs on Radio Stations: The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) has removed Indian songs from all Pakistani radio stations. This includes classics by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, as well as contemporary hits by artists like Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated:
“This decision demonstrates a strong sense of national solidarity on behalf of the PBA… I deeply appreciate the initiative of the PBA on its own, which upholds the dignity and sovereignty of the nation. This shows we all stand united in promoting national unity and supporting core values during such testing times.”
Clarification by Hania Aamir:
Amidst these developments, a statement falsely attributed to actress Hania Aamir, claiming she had appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the Instagram ban, circulated on social media. Aamir has since clarified:
“Recently, a statement has been falsely attributed to me and is being widely circulated on social media. I want to address this directly: I did not make this statement, and I do not endorse or align with the words being linked to me. It is entirely fabricated and misrepresents who I am and what I believe.”
