In a sudden move that has sparked reactions across social media, the Instagram accounts of top Pakistani celebrities Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar are no longer accessible to users in India.

Fans discovered over the weekend that trying to visit their profiles on the platform now displays a message stating that the content isn’t available in the region due to “legal requests.”

The development, as reported by PTI, has left many Indian fans surprised, with several speculating on whether the action is linked to ongoing diplomatic or regulatory tensions between the two countries. The celebrities themselves have not yet issued any official statements about the move, although their accounts continue to remain active and visible to users outside of India.

Mahira Khan, known for her role in the Bollywood film Raees opposite Shah Rukh Khan, enjoys a large fan base in India. Hania Aamir, one of Pakistan’s most popular young television actors, and singer-actor Ali Zafar, who has also starred in multiple Indian films like ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ and ‘Tere Bin Laden’, have long maintained strong followings across the border. Their Instagram profiles, featuring updates on their work and personal moments, have often drawn admiration from Indian audiences.

According to the platform message displayed to Indian users attempting to access the accounts, “This account is not available in your region due to a legal request.” However, there is no official word from either Instagram’s parent company Meta or the Indian government on the specific legal grounds for the action.

Social media experts suggest that such geoblocking of individual accounts typically happens when platforms receive formal legal notices from a country’s regulatory authorities. It’s still unclear whether this is a temporary or permanent restriction, or if it applies to other Pakistani public figures as well.

The move comes at a time when digital content regulations in India are being more strictly enforced, and follows a wider trend of limiting cross-border visibility of certain online profiles and content. Fans and digital rights activists alike have raised concerns about censorship and the shrinking space for cross-cultural engagement online.

As the matter continues to unfold, netizens have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express disappointment, with hashtags like #MahiraKhan and #AliZafar trending on the platform since Sunday evening. For now, unless the restriction is reversed or clarified, Indian fans will be unable to follow their favourite Pakistani stars on Instagram directly.