 "Shikhar Dhawan has slammed Shahid Afridi for his comment on Indian Army. Image: Reuters")
Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has come under fire for his comments about the Indian Army after the tragic terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 innocent civilians were killed on 22 April. Afridi, speaking to Pakistani media, had questioned India’s claims and demanded “proof” of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack. Afridi made some baseless allegations against the Indian security forces.
“Patakha phat jaata hai wahaa par, Pakistan ne kiya. Tum logo ki 8 lakh ki fauj hai Kashmir mein aur ye ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log ki security nahi de sake logo ko,” Afridi had said on Samaa TV. (Even if a cracker bursts there, you blame Pakistan. You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. This means your Army is useless for not being able to protect your people.)
Shikhar Dhawan slams Shahid Afridi
Reacting strongly to Afridi’s remarks, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan slammed him on social media. Dhawan reminded Afridi of Pakistan’s humiliating defeat at the hands of the Indian Army in the 1999 Kargil war. He also advised the Pakistan cricketer to think about their country’s development rather than making baseless comments.
“Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao @SAfridiOfficial. Humein hamari Indian Army par bohot garv hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!” Dhawan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Danish Kaneria joins the bandwagon
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria also slammed Afridi for his comments.
“He has consistently aligned himself with extremist views. In my opinion, he should not be given a platform on Indian television or within the country. Additionally, he tried to persuade me to convert to Islam and declined to share a meal with me, which I found deeply disrespectful,” Kaneria posted on X.
Afridi’s comments have not gone down well in India, especially at a time when emotions are running high after the Pahalgam attack. Many cricketers and fans alike have condemned the attack that claimed several innocent lives. India has taken strict action in response to the attack.
The Indian government has already asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country before 1 May and has implemented the closure of the Wagah-Attari crossing. New Delhi has also suspended the Indus Water Treaty and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.