After India Restricts Pakistani Artists And YouTube Channels, The Latter Pulls Indian Songs Off Air

The tensions between India and Pakistan have been soaring for the past few weeks following the tragic terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The incident, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, has led to a sharp cultural shift between the two countries. Days after the ban of Pakistani YouTube channels and artists, Pakistan’s radio stations took Indian songs off air.

Pakistan radio pulls the plug on Indian songs

For decades, Bollywood songs by legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and contemporary artists like Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal have dominated Pakistan’s radio stations. On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) confirmed the decision, stating that all Indian music has been removed from FM stations across the country with immediate effect. This move comes in the wake of the growing diplomatic hostility and retaliations between India and Pakistan after the brutal Pahalgam incident.

Citing patriotic interests, Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, appreciated PBA’s gesture, stating that it reflects the nation’s collective sentiment. His note, written to the General Secretary of the Association, read:

"It 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. We acknowledge with pride the efforts of all media stakeholders who continue to act in the national interest and support government efforts directed towards promoting unity, peace, and patriotism."

India bans Pakistani YouTube channels and celebrities’ Instagram accounts

Pakistan Radio’s retaliation comes as a sharp response to the country’s diplomatic fallout with India. Earlier, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly circulating false and misleading narratives against India, spreading misinformation and “disseminating provocative and false content”. The list of banned channels includes Samaa TV, Ary News, Dawn News, and Geo News, among others.

In addition, Pakistani celebrities’ Instagram accounts, including those of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar, are no longer visible to Indian users. A message now reads:

“Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

India has also taken a five-point action plan, under which it suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, revoked Pakistani nationals’ visas, shut down the Attari land transit, and closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines, drastically intensifying the diplomatic tensions.

Bollywood restricts Pakistani actors

The cultural divide has extended to the film industry as well. In response to the Kashmir incident, India has restricted Pakistani actors. The Hindi film, Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan, alongside Vaani Kapoor and scheduled for release on May 9, 2025, will not be released in India. The decision comes amid public outrage following the Pahalgam incident, further reinforcing the unofficial ban on Pakistani artists in Indian cinema that has been in place since the 2016 Uri attacks.

What are your views on Pakistan's move against India?

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