ISLAMABAD: India has blocked access to Pakistani Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem’s Instagram account, a move seen as part of a broader digital ban on Pakistani content.
The move follows an earlier recommendation by the Indian Home Ministry to restrict Pakistani voices online, which recently led to the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of former cricketers Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali.
The ban on Arshad Nadeem’s account comes amid rising tensions in occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam incident. Observers believe the move is politically motivated, aimed at suppressing narratives that challenge official Indian claims and hindering sports diplomacy between the two countries.
The ban also comes after reports that Arshad Nadeem had rejected an invitation from India’s Neeraj Chopra to participate in a javelin event in India.
The blocking of his account has been criticized by many, who see it as an attempt to silence Pakistani voices and limit cross-border engagement in sports and entertainment.
