Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi triggered a major controversy after posting a tweet against the Republic of India over the “crackdown in Kashmir by Indian security forces to tackle terrorist attacks at various places in the Valley”.
“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? [sic]” wrote Afridi.
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His remark expectedly drew condemnation from Indians. But Afridi was not the only one to have tweeted against India.
Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan had on Monday used similar words.
Their remarks came as a shutdown was observed in Kashmir following a bloody Sunday in which 20 people – 13 terrorists, four civilians and three soldiers – were killed in the three separate gunfights in Shopian and Anantnag districts.
Read More: 3 Army jawans, 13 terrorists killed in south Kashmir encounters
Separatists called for a complete shutdown on Monday to protest the killings of the civilians. Clashes broke out in parts of the state which left over 60 civilians injured.
Stone pelting was reported from many areas. Police and paramilitary troops reportedly lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
Authorities placed Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Yaseen Malik under house arrest in Srinagar to prevent their participation in the protest.
Stephane Dijarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Monday that the deaths of the civilians in Kashmir “need to be investigated”.
“Civilians have to be protected wherever they are, whether it is in Gaza, whether it is in Jammu-Kashmir, whether it is in Yemen; it is a basic principle,” he said in reply to a reporter’s question. “Any loss of civilians needs to be investigated wherever they occur.”
The developments were followed by the US adding the Milli Muslim League (MML) – the political party of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) – to its list of terrorist groups on Tuesday.
Read More: Hafiz Saeed’s political front MML declared terror outfit, India hails US move
Seven terror leaders from the party and another front organisation, Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAJK), were also added to the list.
(With inputs from agencies.)
