Spotify has pulled down all Pakistani songs from its platform for Indian users. This action came following a directive from the Indian government. It is a part of a broader ban on Pakistani-origin content across all streaming platforms in India. The decision came in the wake of rising political tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. The government’s strict ban on Pakistani content came particularly after the Indian military’s Operation Sindoor.

The ban has led to the disappearance of several popular Pakistani tracks that had found a loyal audience in India. Spotify has removed all Pakistani songs, including fan-favourites Jhol, Maand, and Faasle.

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It’s not the first time

This isn’t the first time geopolitics has tangled with music streaming in India. In 2019, after the Pulwama attack, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena pushed music labels to drop Pakistani artists. Labels like T-Series complied, taking down tracks by Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

The current advisory was issued under Part II of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It reminds publishers and intermediaries to “ensure that content hosted or streamed does not threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order.”

The Ministry also pointed out that many terrorist attacks in India have involved cross-border links with state and non-state actors in Pakistan. It cited the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed several Indian citizens and one Nepali national. The government said it issued the advisory in the interest of national security.

This action comes after Pakistani artists were banned from all Indian platforms. Their photos were also removed from all movie or song posters of India. Indian listeners remain divided over Spotify’s removal of Pakistani songs. The removal of these tracks has sparked disappointment among listeners who had included them in their regular playlists, whereas many listeners have willingly removed Pakistani artists from their playlists as a way to support the country.

It’s unclear if the ban will be lifted soon, but it marks a shift in how cross-border content is accessed online. For now, Indian Spotify users will have to bear with the gap in their playlists.

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