New Delhi: Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria, on Thursday, lashed out at his nation’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for calling the Pahalgam terrorists “freedom fighters”. His criticism of Dar came a day after he called out Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his silence over the Pahalgam terror attacks, which left 26 dead and many injured.
On Tuesday, at the serene Baisaran valley in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the terrorists launched a deadly attack on the tourists, and the assault has since been marked as the deadliest in the Kashmir valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. An affiliate outfit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), called The Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the massacre.
The incident has been receiving widespread condemnation, with top leaders of the world lending support to India in this critical time and raising their voices against terrorism. However, not much reaction has been seen coming from across the border, and to everyone’s surprise, Ishaq Dar has made a bizarre comment of calling the J&K terrorists “freedom fighters.”
Earlier, speaking to the press in Islamabad, Dar had said, “Those who carried out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam district on April 22 might be freedom fighters.”
The comment didn’t go well with Kaneria, who termed his remark as “disgraceful” and stated that it is an open admission of the country harbouring terrorists. “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 his “X” account.
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
Kaneria’s stance
A day before, Kaneria had also slammed the Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for his silence over the deadly attacks in Pahalgam and openly accused him of “sheltering and nurturing terrorists.”
If Pakistan truly has no role in the Pahalgam terror attack, why hasn’t Prime Minister @CMShehbaz condemned it yet? Why are your forces suddenly on high alert? Because deep down, you know the truth — you’re sheltering and nurturing terrorists. Shame on you.
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 23, 2025
Kaneria, a Hindu who represented Pakistan internationally from 2000 to 2010, has been quite vocal about his country’s government stance on terrorism and has openly criticised them numerous times. In the aftermath of the harrowing incident in Pahalgam, Kaneria made a series of tweets replying to his own countrymen over why is he “behaving and acting” like an Indian while still being a citizen of Pakistan.
I am not speaking against Pakistan or its people. The Awam of Pakistan have suffered the most at the hands of terrorism. They deserve leadership that stands for peace, not one that shelters terrorists or stays silent when innocents are murdered.
I once wore Pakistan’s jersey… https://t.co/CDf17g0pkz
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 24, 2025
I am a Hindu — a proud one. As a Hindu, I served and played for the nation where I was born, because no matter where Hindus live in the world, they remain loyal and devoted to their country. The people of Pakistan gave me love, but its rulers treated me no differently than they… https://t.co/iLZGqlEqYZ
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 24, 2025
After calling out Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for his silence on Pahalgam terror attacks, Danish Kaneria has now slammed Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar for his bizarre comment on the J&K terrorists. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
