KARACHI: Despite the pressure mounting from across the border, former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi said he stands firmly with his stance on Indian brutalities in Occupied Kashmir.
Talking to media, Afridi said: “I firmly stand by what I said earlier about what is happening in Occupied Kashmir.”
Afridi on Tuesday drew ire of the Indian cricketers, stars and media when he tweeted condemning the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir.
Urging the United Nation (UN) to intervene, Afridi wrote, ” Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self-determination and independence. Wonder where is the UN & other international bodies and why aren’t they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?”
Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren’t they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 3, 2018
His statement, however, faced criticism in India as batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina criticised the all-rounder stating that he is “celebrating a dismissal of a no- ball!!!”
Meanwhile, Indian media also adopted a harsher stance against the all-rounder alleging that he is the agent of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Undeterred Afridi, however, said that Indian media is playing a “negative role,” adding it is because of Indian media that relations between Pakistan and India will never improve.
He stated that Indians love Pakistani cricket and players but it is Indian media which, like always, is playing a negative role. “I spoke against India because of its involvement in human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir as Indian forces have killed innocent Kashmiris in the valley in last few days,” he further said, he runs a foundation and will raise his voice against rights violations, be it in Kashmir or any other place in the world.
Responding to Indian media’s claims that he is an agent of ISI, Afridi said that if he wasn’t a cricketer, he’d be in Pakistan Army. “I am proud what our forces are doing and I am also a soldier of Pakistan army.”
The hard-hitter also dismissed the possibility of playing Indian Premier League (IPL), stating even if IPL calls him, he will not play the league. “The day is not far that PSL will be bigger than IPL,” the all-rounder said.
