India blocks access to Pakistani entertainment channels on YouTube

India has blocked several popular Pakistani entertainment channels on YouTube, including ARY Digital, Har Pal Geo, and Hum TV, following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

The action, reportedly based on a recommendation by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, has drawn concern from fans and content creators alike.

The affected channels, which had built a substantial viewership in India over the years, are now displaying the message: “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.”

The move impacts millions of Indian viewers who had embraced Pakistani serials for their emotional storytelling, relatable themes, and concise episodic structure.

Earlier, Instagram had restricted access to the accounts of several Pakistani celebrities and influencers for users in India, following a legal request tied to content regulation.

Those affected included actress Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and singer-actor Ali Zafar. Indian users trying to view their profiles were shown the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

The move mirrored earlier actions by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which had blocked several Pakistani YouTube channels.

These included major media outlets like Express News, Dawn News, Geo News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and creators such as former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar.