Shahid Afridi, Gautam Gambhir rekindle old rivalry on Kashmir issue

The arch-rivals clash on Twitter over India’s “unprovoked aggression” in occupied Kashmir.

By Web Desk
August 06, 2019
Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir take their once on field battle to Twitter over the critical issues prevalent in Kashmir. Photos: AFP  

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and Indian cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir had quite a few battles on the cricket field during their playing careers but the two are now clashing on Twitter on political issues as well.

After New Delhi controversially revoked the Indian-occupied Kashmir’s special status on Monday, Afridi had questioned the “unprovoked aggression” against the Kashmiris and urged the United Nations as well as US President Donald Trump to “mediate”.

As expected, Gambhir, who is not a member of the Indian parliament, responded to his old adversary’s concerns.

He sarcastically endorsed Afridi’s views, adding that he was “spot on”. But in the end he counter alleged that the “unprovoked aggression and crimes against humanity” were actually happening in Azad Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention here that there appears no evidence of any “unprovoked aggression and crimes against humanity” in Azad Kashmir. However, independent analysts from both BBC and CNN have reported how New Delhi has imposed a near-curfew in occupied Kashmir, suspended telephone and internet services, and locked up the local leadership.

More than 47,000 people have also been killed in the Indian-administered part of the valley, according to CNN.

Gambhir’s retort to Afridi, in the light of widely reported and verified evidence, makes little sense. 

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