New Delhi, May 1, 2025: Pakistan’s Olympic javelin star Arshad Nadeem has had his Instagram account blocked in India, following a surge in digital restrictions on Pakistani content in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Indian media, the move came in response to a “legal request” made under local Indian laws. When Indian users attempt to access Nadeem’s profile, they are met with a message stating:
“Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request.”
An accompanying statement from Instagram added:
“We received a legal request to restrict this content. We reviewed it against our policies and conducted a legal and human rights assessment. After the review, we restricted access to the content in the location where it goes against local law.”
This is not the only high-profile digital takedown in recent days. Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel has also been blocked in India. Additionally, the Indian government has reportedly shut down 16 Pakistani news YouTube channels, including ARY News, Dawn News, Samaa TV, Geo News, Bol News, and Suno News — all of which had been covering the Pahalgam tragedy critically.
According to The Hindu, these blocked channels collectively had over 63 million subscribers. YouTube platforms run by prominent Pakistani journalists — including Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq — have also been restricted for Indian audiences.
The digital crackdown follows a deadly attack last month in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people at a tourist site in IIOJK. While New Delhi has accused Pakistani elements of involvement, it has yet to provide conclusive evidence. Islamabad has strongly denied the claims, calling them politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has also found himself at the center of controversy. Chopra had invited Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin event in Bengaluru, scheduled for May 24. The Pakistani athlete later declined the invitation due to preparations for the Asian Athletics Championships.
Chopra faced a barrage of online hate for extending the invitation, with right-wing users questioning his loyalty. In a social media post, Chopra pushed back, saying:
“It hurts to see my integrity being questioned… It pains me that I have to explain myself to people who are targeting me and my family, with no good reason.”
He clarified that the invitations to international athletes were sent out two days before the Pahalgam attack, stressing that his intention was to promote sportsmanship and cross-border camaraderie, not politics.
