Listen to the article
2025: A Year of India-Pakistan Tensions, Viral Moments, and Cultural Controversies
In a year marked by geopolitical tensions, viral social media moments, and cultural flashpoints, 2025 proved to be a particularly turbulent period in India-Pakistan relations. From near-military confrontations to heated exchanges in entertainment and sports, the year saw both countries engaging in ways that captured public attention and stirred significant online discourse.
The relationship between the two nations dominated headlines, with India featuring prominently in Pakistani media coverage. From geographical misunderstandings to the vandalization of establishments with cross-border names, tensions manifested in unexpected ways throughout the year.
One of the most discussed stories involved “Dhurandhar,” a Bollywood film starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna that claimed to expose Lyari’s criminal underworld. The film, widely criticized in Pakistan for its inaccurate portrayal of Pakistani culture and society, nonetheless became India’s highest-grossing Hindi film domestically, generating 6.9 billion rupees in just 24 days. Critics in Pakistan pointed to numerous cultural inaccuracies, including scenes showing beef being served at religious gatherings and women wearing inappropriate attire in conservative neighborhoods.
When military tensions escalated in May, an unexpected social media phenomenon emerged around Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed. The Pakistani military spokesperson became an internet sensation, particularly among younger demographics who used contemporary slang to express their admiration. Terms like “pookie” and discussions about his “aura” flooded social media platforms, creating a peculiar juxtaposition between serious security concerns and internet culture.
The May crisis also sparked a wave of memes after Indian media reportedly referred to an attack on “Lahore port” – a geographical impossibility since Lahore is an inland city with no port. Pakistanis seized on this error, unleashing creative memes that temporarily shifted public focus from the gravity of potential conflict to collective mockery of misinformation.
In a tragic story that transcended geopolitical tensions, actor and model Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her Karachi apartment in July, months after she had actually passed away. Her death sparked important conversations about loneliness and community support in Pakistan, with entertainment industry figures pledging greater attention to colleagues’ mental health and well-being.
Cultural tensions manifested in unexpected ways when Indians vandalized Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad, India, during heightened tensions following the Pahalgam attack and subsequent clashes. In response, Pakistanis shared their appreciation for Hyderabad’s Bombay Bakery, a popular establishment known for its coffee cake, emphasizing that names should not be politicized.
Sports continued to be a flashpoint, with Pakistan’s loss to India in the Champions Trophy becoming one of the year’s most-read stories. The defeat crushed Pakistani cricket fans, many of whom expressed their dismay through social media lamentations and melodramatic vows to abandon cricket altogether – promises that, as usual, proved short-lived.
A more substantive controversy emerged around India’s military operation against Pakistan, dubbed “Operation Sindoor.” Critics noted how the operation’s name and imagery attempted to connect traditional symbols of Indian womanhood with militaristic nationalism. When Himanshi Narwal, a woman who had become the face of India’s response after losing her husband in the Pahalgam attack, made a public appeal for peace, she faced vicious online harassment including threats and slut-shaming from fellow Indians.
The entertainment communities of both nations also clashed, with Pakistani celebrities condemning their Bollywood counterparts for celebrating Indian military strikes that resulted in civilian casualties. The ISPR reported that the May attacks claimed 31 lives and left 57 injured, including women and children. Pakistani artists expressed outrage that Indian stars would celebrate actions resulting in civilian deaths.
Even global cultural events like the Met Gala became points of engagement for Pakistani audiences. The 2025 gala’s theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” generated significant interest, with readers particularly engaged by fashion missteps and cultural controversies that emerged during the event.
As 2025 draws to a close, the year stands as a testament to the complex, often contentious relationship between India and Pakistan – one that continues to play out not just in diplomatic corridors but across entertainment, sports, social media, and everyday cultural exchanges.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
The portrayal of Lyari’s criminal underworld in the Bollywood film ‘Dhurandhar’ seems ripe for criticism given the sensitivities around representing Pakistani society. Filmmakers should be mindful of potential biases and inaccuracies when depicting other cultures.
Agreed. Responsible storytelling that avoids harmful stereotypes is crucial, especially when dealing with complex geopolitical dynamics.
Interesting to see how tensions between India and Pakistan continue to play out in the media and entertainment spheres. While cultural depictions may be controversial, it’s important to understand different perspectives on these complex geopolitical issues.
You raise a good point. Accurately portraying the nuances of cross-border dynamics is certainly challenging, but open dialogue can help bridge divides.
The success of the Bollywood film ‘Dhurandhar’ despite criticism in Pakistan highlights the power of propaganda and nationalist narratives, even when they lack authenticity. It’s a sobering reminder of how media can shape public opinion.
I agree, the blending of entertainment and politics is concerning. Audiences should be discerning consumers and seek out balanced, factual information on these sensitive topics.
It’s fascinating to see how memes, ‘Pookies’, and propaganda films have become key battlegrounds in the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions. The power of social media and entertainment to shape public perceptions is quite remarkable.
This article touches on some fascinating cultural dynamics at play between India and Pakistan. While the viral moments and controversies may be attention-grabbing, I hope there are also efforts to foster greater mutual understanding between the two countries.
Well said. Constructive dialogue and cultural exchange, rather than divisive rhetoric, is ultimately what’s needed to address longstanding tensions.