Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi stirred controversy by blaming the Indian Army for security failures and accusing India of unjustly targeting Pakistan. Speaking on a Pakistani news channel, Afridi mocked Indian media and questioned the credibility of Indian cricketers who blamed Pakistan without proof. His remarks sparked a strong backlash from Indian players like Shikhar Dhawan and Danish Kaneria, who criticized Afridi for his baseless comments. Meanwhile, India has responded to the attack by sealing borders, expelling Pakistani nationals, and terminating the Indus Waters Treaty.
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Shahid Afridi directly accused the Indian Army of failing to prevent the Pahalgam terror attack, calling them "useless" despite their heavy deployment in Kashmir — igniting major backlash.
Afridi alleged that India habitually blames Pakistan for any untoward incident, reinforcing an ongoing narrative without evidence, especially after tragic attacks like the one in Pahalgam.
In a sarcastic jibe, Afridi said, “Even if a firecracker bursts in India, Pakistan gets blamed,” ridiculing India’s immediate reaction and questioning the credibility of such accusations.
Afridi criticized the Indian media for sensationalizing news, likening their coverage of the Pahalgam incident to a Bollywood drama, and accusing them of emotional, evidence-less reporting.
Without taking names, Afridi accused former Indian cricketers of irresponsibly blaming Pakistan without proof, urging them to maintain the dignity befitting their legendary statuses.
In a bold move, Afridi challenged the Indian government to present undeniable proof linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack, asserting that mere allegations damage diplomatic ties.
Afridi humorously referenced past incidents where captured Pakistani personnel were allegedly treated cordially by India, claiming that prior "proofs" are still held by Pakistan.
While Afridi dominated headlines for his political remarks, his daughter Aqsa Afridi's engagement to Shaheen Shah Afridi also captured public attention, intertwining cricket and personal news.
Responding sharply, Shikhar Dhawan reminded Afridi of Pakistan’s defeat in the 1999 Kargil War, suggesting Afridi focus on Pakistan’s development rather than baseless allegations.
Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria condemned Afridi’s comments, labeling him an extremist voice and calling for Indian media to boycott him for promoting divisive narratives.
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