Pakistani celebrities echo govt's tough message, as India beats drums of war

KARACHI: Several Pakistani artists have condemned India’s aggressive stance following the recent attack in the Pahalgam area of the Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK), urging for peace but warning that Pakistan knows how to respond if war is forced upon it.

The celebrities said Pakistan does not believe in initiating conflict, but if provoked, the country will defend itself strongly. “Our desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness,” they added.

The reactions came after suspected militants killed at least 26 tourists in the April 22 attack on the mountain destination in IIOJK.

India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan said it has "credible intelligence" that India intends to launch military action.

Following the attack, India suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in a bitter response to Pakistan. 

Responding swifly, Pakistan also announced retaliatory measures that have included halting all border trade, closing its airspace to Indian carriers and expelling Indian diplomats.

Islamabad has also warned that any attempt to prevent the flow of river water promised under a decades-old treaty between the two nations would be considered an act of war.

Pakistan not only condemned the Pahalgam incident, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered full cooperation for a neutral investigation if India is willing.

Despite this, Indian officials have continued issuing threats of action against Pakistan. However, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has made it clear that any misadventure will be met with a memorable response.

Meanwhile, India has reportedly taken down social media accounts of several Pakistani politicians, government officials, and celebrities from the entertainment and sports world.

Instagram accounts of several celebrities, including Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, and Sanam Saeed, are blocked from view in India, Geo.tv reported.

 Indian users attempting to access these profiles were met with a message stating: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."

Among the other Pakistani actors whose accounts are no longer visible in India are Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas and Sajal Aly. At the same time, the profiles of Fawad Khan and Wahaj Ali remain accessible for now.

Indian authorities have also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, citing the spread of "provocative" or “communally sensitive” content.

The official YouTube channel of former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar — with over 3.5 million subscribers — has reportedly also been removed.