Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has stirred controversy once again with provocative remarks aimed at India, particularly following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month. In a rally on Sunday, Afridi praised Pakistan’s military, calling them “unbreakable” and accusing India of “martyring children” and targeting civilian areas, including mosques.
Afridi’s comments come despite India’s significant military action against Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Armed Forces, targeted multiple airbases within Pakistan, neutralized key air defense and radar systems, and eliminated up to nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India also provided visual evidence of the strikes, highlighting the strategic success of their mission.
Speaking at the “Youm-e-Tashakur” (Day of Gratitude) rally in Karachi, Afridi backed Pakistan’s military response, which was dubbed ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos’. He accused India of initiating aggression and asserted that the country’s defense is “unbreakable.”
“Pakistan’s defense is unbreakable. Modi now realizes how costly it is to confront Pakistan,” Afridi remarked at the rally, as reported by The Express Tribune. “They martyred our children, targeted civilian areas, and mosques. We are a peace-loving people, but we will not remain silent in the face of such aggression.”
Earlier, Afridi had denied Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack, demanding proof from India and criticizing the Indian army for its failure to protect its citizens.
India had launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, initially targeting terror camps inside Pakistan and PoK. The Indian military extended its operations to strike key air defense systems and airbases across Pakistan after Pakistani forces continued to target civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in other border states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Despite a ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States after three days of hostilities, Pakistan violated the truce hours later with drone strikes in Srinagar and other parts of India. The tense situation between the two countries continues to escalate amid growing international concern.