Pakistan Olympian Arshad Nadeem’s Instagram Blocked in India Amid Rising Tensions
Pakistan Olympian Arshad Nadeem’s Instagram Blocked in India Amid Rising Tensions
Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion, had his Instagram account blocked in India on Wednesday evening, just days after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists. Nadeem, who holds the Olympic title in men’s javelin, now has a restricted profile in India, with a message reading: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Several prominent Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar, also faced similar restrictions on their Instagram accounts. These actions are part of broader measures taken by the Indian government following the attack, which include suspending SVES visas, halting the Indus Waters Treaty, and blocking numerous Pakistani social media profiles.
While Arshad’s Instagram account (802k followers) is now inaccessible, accounts of Pakistani cricketers like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi remain viewable in India. Former captain Shahid Afridi's Instagram is still active, though his and Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channels have been blocked.
Arshad’s recent posts featured promotions and public appearances. His X account remains accessible. He had declined an invite to compete at the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. After the attack, Neeraj Chopra faced backlash for the invite, prompting him to clarify that Arshad's participation was never confirmed.