Shahid Afridi's 'victory rally' post-ceasefire mocked as fantasy storytelling by Indian fans

Shahid Afridi leading a rally (Pic: Screengrab/X)

A video of former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sparked a storm online after he was seen leading what was described as a 'victory rally' in Karachi, celebrating Pakistan's perceived success in the recent military standoff with India. The video, which quickly went viral across social media platforms, showed the 47-year-old standing in an open vehicle while supporters behind him waved Pakistani flags.

Afridi's celebratory tone came in stark contrast to India's official position, which was supported by visual evidence of precision strikes on numerous Pakistani air bases. These visuals, released by the Indian Armed Forces, countered Afridi's narrative and affirmed the success of India's Operation Sindoor.

Indian netizens viewed the rally not as a patriotic gesture, but as an insensitive celebration in the wake of an operation targeting terror infrastructure. Some even went as far as to label Afridi a 'terrorist'.

Previously, Afridi also denied any Pakistani involvement in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, having challenged India to present proof, stating, 'their failure to protect their citizens' rendered the Indian military 'useless'.

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 by India, targeted nine terror facilities located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was executed in response to the Pahalgam attack and was designed to deliver a strong message while avoiding civilian casualties and maintaining military precision.

The four days of cross-border military actions by land, air, and sea heightened regional tensions and raised fears of a broader conflict. However, on May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. The agreement was announced after a phone call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the development, noting that both sides had reached a mutual understanding to de-escalate the situation. Interestingly, it was US President Donald Trump who first publicly revealed the ceasefire agreement through a social media post, claiming the US had played a mediating role in brokering the truce.