Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has stirred a hornet’s nest across the border by his latest remarks on Kashmir. Addressing the House of Commons in London, Afridi advised Pakistan Government to set their own house in order before worrying about Kashmir.
https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1062469552200732672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As per the media reports, the former Pakistani cricketer has urged his government to focus on the developmental work in the current four provinces of Pakistan instead of directing their resources towards the strife-torn Kashmir. Afridi was present in London to participate in an event related to his Shahid Afridi foundation.
“Pakistan doesn’t need Kashmir; it is not able to even handle the four provinces it has,” Afridi said during the press interaction.
In what appears to be an indirect snub to the terrorist organisations based in Pakistan and their ISI handlers, he also stated that people are dying there in Kashmir, it should all stop. Humanity should live. It is very sad to see that people are being killed unnecessarily.
Conscious of the repercussion his comments might trigger back in Pakistan, he also seemed to placate Pakistani establishment by demanding to make Kashmir a Free country.
But the latest declarations by Afridi should be taken with a pinch of salt. Earlier this year, he posted an obnoxious tweet regarding the clampdown on terrorists by the Indian Armed Forces. His tweet triggered responses from Indian counterparts like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Gautam Gambhir and Kapil Dev, who all blasted him for his tweet on Kashmir.
https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/981084208369192961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/981527743211819008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/981490918468415488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/981136834913763333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
No one else but Afridi can explain the recent change of heart. Perhaps, he has realised the world is more intrigued by India’s meteoric growth than being engulfed in the hackneyed Kashmir dispute. He may have also resigned to the fact that the only way he and other Pakistani players can get lucrative IPL contracts is by sidelining the Kashmir issue.