The Pahalgam massacre, which resulted in 26 deaths and several injuries, stands as one of the most devastating terror attacks in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019
Danish Kaneria, Indian Army personnel in J&K after Pahalgam terror attack (Pic: AFP)
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria strongly rebuked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for describing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack as 'freedom fighters', calling it 'an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism'.
Kaneria, 44, had earlier condemned Pakistan’s political leadership for its stance on terrorism and had earlier accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of 'sheltering and nurturing terrorists', while lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delivering a rare speech in English to convey a powerful message against terrorism.
The Pahalgam massacre, which resulted in 26 deaths and several injuries, stands as one of the most devastating terror attacks in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. In the aftermath of the tragedy, security forces initiated widespread search operations on Wednesday to hunt down those responsible. Heightened security measures have been observed across the region, with visuals revealing deserted streets in what is usually a lively tourist destination.
While the incident drew widespread international condemnation, Dar’s controversial characterisation of the attackers ignited further outrage. “When the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan calls terrorists ‘freedom fighters,’ it's not just a disgrace, it's an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism,” Kaneria wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
When the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan calls terrorists “freedom fighters,” it’s not just a disgrace — it’s an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism. pic.twitter.com/QlS1UDzq20
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 24, 2025
In a separate incident, Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra addressed the criticism he has faced for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to participate in the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic. Clarifying the timeline of the invitation, Chopra emphasised that it had been extended prior to the Pahalgam terror incident and was simply an invite 'from one athlete to another'.
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) April 25, 2025
Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the Paris Games, expressed his dismay over the backlash and personal attacks. “There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and most of it has been hate and abuse. They haven't even left my family out of it,” he stated in a heartfelt message on X. He also added that it 'hurts' to see his integrity, and that of his family, questioned.
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