India has lifted its ban on select Pakistani YouTube channels and social media accounts that were blocked in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. Platforms reinstated access to channels belonging to prominent Pakistani figures such as Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, Rashid Latif, and celebrities like Ahad Raza Mir and Mawra Hocane—though several accounts, including Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir, remain unreachable for Indian users.

The original ban, imposed on the recommendation of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, targeted 16 Pakistani YouTube channels—comprising major news outlets and influencers—accused of spreading "provocative content and misinformation" following the Pahalgam attack. Access to Instagram profiles of high-profile Pakistanis such as Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, and Hania Aamir was also revoked.

Reinstatement of these channels sparked strong reactions online. Conservative commentators condemned the move as “shameful,” particularly after an unverified Instagram story allegedly from Afridi surfaced, criticizing Prime Minister Modi as “spineless” and labeling the attack an “insider job”—claims unsubstantiated and still under verification.