The already strained bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan has again taken a cultural turn, this time over flowing into the realms of social media and radio. India has recently ratcheted up its unofficial prohibition on Pakistani artists, blocking digital access to well-known stars such as Pakistani actress and influencer Hania Aamir. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan has now instructed all Indian songs be removed from radio programs nationwide.
This new level of escalation is a reflection of the increasing role of entertainment and culture in the political game of power between the two South Asian neighbors. Although both governments have frequently used diplomatic means to show disapproval, banning artists and art has recently become a common refrain in times of increased tension.
India Tightens Its Digital Borders
Hania Aamir, one of Pakistan’s most popular and recognizable faces on social media sites like YouTube and Instagram, had her content restricted or unavailable to users in India for the past week. The action is also part of India’s broader crackdown on Pakistani performers and influencers, which informally started in 2016 following the Uri attack, and has periodically reinforced itself since then.
Although there isn’t any law specifically prohibiting Pakistani performers, professional entertainment industry unions within India, the All India Cine Workers Association among others, have also invoked multiple bans of Pakistani professionals from time to time. Following recent online banning orders against Aamir Khan and others, the boycott, earlier restricted mainly to the legacy media, is now extended online in India as well.
Aamir, famous for her acting in popular Pakistani dramas and open online personality, has a large following in India. Her instant online blackout initiated puzzlement and disillusionment among Indian fans, most of whom took to social media to express their dismay, using VPNs to keep accessing her material.
Pakistan’s Cultural Retaliation
In a swift retaliatory measure, Pakistan’s media regulator, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), decreed an embargo on all Indian music from broadcast on national and private radio. This encompasses Bollywood filmi, Indian pop songs, and individual Hindi tracks, one of the most extensive cultural withdrawals in years.
A PEMRA spokesperson said, “We cannot have a one-way cultural flow. If Indian officials are actively shutting down Pakistani voices, we will have to take proportionate steps.” Up until this week, big stations in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi have removed Indian songs from the playlist, replaced by local material and music from other nations such as Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Artists Caught in the Crossfire
Both countries’ artists and musicians have complained about the situation. Various Pakistani singers who had worked with Indian composers or record labels have seen their output stalled or postponed. Similarly, Indian artists who had been popular in Pakistan are losing an overnight listener base.
“This is really disappointing,” commented a Pakistani radio DJ who asked not to be named. “Art was the last strand left when everything else was crumbling. Now even that is lost.”
Indian media analysts have also criticized the bans on grounds that art and politics must not be mixed. “We are only isolating millions of people who truly respect each other’s work,” said a Mumbai media strategist.
A Cultural Cold War
This latest incident highlights the fragility of cross-border cultural exchange during tense politics. Music and film have been the de facto diplomacy between India and Pakistan for years, sharing a common space for storytelling and communication. But with each new prohibition, that bridge seems to grow weaker.
While some consider the actions patriotic and unavoidable, others consider them a loss to the two countries’ vibrant artistic communities. With no indication of either side relenting, the existing cultural freeze is likely to extend longer than those in the past.
For now, the voice of harmony between the two nations has been reduced to silence — a silence deepening with every passing day.
