ISLAMABAD, July 3 (TNF): As military tensions between India and Pakistan flared in May, the cultural connection that has long linked the two nations through film and music also came under fire, disrupting years of cross-border artistic exchange.
The deadly clashes in early May — described as the most intense in decades — had a ripple effect on artists who previously remained above the fray of political disputes. Pakistani rapper and comedian Ali Gul Pir, known for his large Indian fan base, found himself affected for the first time. Although his earlier satirical songs targeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not drawn repercussions, Pir’s YouTube channel and Instagram profile were blocked in India during the recent conflict. “Indians now recognise that the digital space serves as a bridge between Pakistanis and Indians, and they seem intent on severing that connection,” Pir told AFP.
The diplomatic breakdown followed a deadly April attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan strongly rejected the accusation, but tensions escalated with diplomatic expulsions and military exchanges that lasted four days before a ceasefire was agreed.
The fallout extended to the music scene, marking the first time artists saw tangible damage. Pakistani singer Annural Khalid shared how her once-strong Indian audience all but vanished. “Delhi was my top listening city before the ban,” said Khalid, who boasts 3.1 million monthly Spotify listeners. “I suffered a great loss in the audience from India. Listeners were deprived of content because music was turned into something it is not.”
The cultural severing also erased signs of earlier collaborations. The soundtrack of the 2017 film Raees on Spotify in India, once celebrated for its Indo-Pak pairing, now only credits Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan. His Pakistani co-star Mahira Khan has effectively been erased from the listing.
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