Shahid Afridi Slams India Over Pahalgam Terror Attack, Calls for Peace

Afridi Criticizes India’s Handling of Pahalgam Attack

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sparked controversy with his strong criticism of India’s response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the attack on Tuesday at Baisaran meadows.

Afridi expressed his disbelief at the Indian army’s delayed response, stating, “The terrorists continued to kill people in Pahalgam for an hour, and not a single Indian soldier out of 8 lakhs showed up. But when they did, they blamed Pakistan.”

He further accused India of engaging in self-inflicted terrorism, saying, “India carries out terrorism itself, kills its own people, and then puts the blame on Pakistan.”

Calls for Peace and Dialogue

Afridi emphasized his belief in peace, stating, “No country or religion supports terrorism. We always support peace. Islam teaches us peace only, and Pakistan never supports such kinds of acts.” He also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to improve relations with India, mentioning the threats he received before travelling to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup.

He advocated for continued sports diplomacy, saying, “They send their kabaddi team here, but they can’t send their cricket team. If you want to shut it down, then do it completely, or let sport.”

Criticism of Indian Media

Afridi also criticized the Indian media for their coverage of the attack, stating, “It’s surprising that within an hour of the attack, their media turned into Bollywood. For God’s sake, don’t make everything Bollywood.”