Saturday , 26 April, 2025 | 13 বৈশাখ, 1432 Bangabdo
Published: 07:38 26 April 2025
India-Pakistan relations have been strained over the deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 innocent tourists. While Indian authorities have indirectly blamed Pakistan for the attack, former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has categorically denied the allegations.
Terming the Indian allegations as "unfortunate and unfair", Afridi said, "It is completely inappropriate to accuse Pakistan without any evidence. The only solution to the problem is peaceful dialogue. Conflict never brings any benefits." He also mentioned that the long-standing enmity between the two neighboring countries only increases the suffering of the common people and cannot bring a permanent solution to the problem.
Stressing on keeping sports out of politics, Shahid Afridi said, "Cricket or any other sport should never be made a tool of politics. Sports build bridges of friendship, not division. I appeal to both India and Pakistan to keep cricket above politics."
It is worth noting that a Kashmiri group called the 'Resistance Front' has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday (April 22). The organization claimed that the attack was carried out as part of its opposition to the 85,000 foreign settlers in the Kashmir region. Indian media reports claim that militants from Pakistan may have been behind the attack. However, no international or independent investigation report has been published in this regard yet.
Shahid Afridi's comments are being praised in various quarters in Pakistan. Many people are especially positive about his call to resolve the problem through peaceful negotiations. On the other hand, some hard-line nationalist groups in India are seeing Afridi's comments as "interference in India's internal affairs". As a result, there is a risk of political tension rising again across the region.
The relations between India and Pakistan are already fragile on the Kashmir issue. The recent attack in Pahalgam has further increased that tension. It remains to be seen whether the call for peaceful dialogue from an internationally renowned figure like Shahid Afridi can create an atmosphere of healthy thinking between the citizens of the two countries.
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