AJK premier slams Shahid Afridi over controversial comments on Kashmir

LONDON - Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider on Thursday criticised former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi for his controversial remarks on Kashmir.

The reaction of the premiere comes a day after a video of Afridi's interaction with students at the British Parliament went viral. The Indian media took it by storm.

The media outlets quoted Afridi as saying, “I say Pakistan doesn’t want Kashmir. Don’t give it to India either. Let Kashmir be independent. At least humanity will be alive. Let people not die. Pakistan doesn’t want Kashmir. It can’t even manage its four provinces. The big thing is insaaniyat (humanity). People who are dying there, it is painful. Any death, be it from any community, is painful.”

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/shahid-afridi-calls-for-an-independent-kashmir-and-indian-media-gives-it-a-weird-spin/

Addressing an event in London, the AJK PM said that the former cricketer might want to take part in the Indian Premier League; therefore, he is issuing such statements.

“Kashmir is a matter of life and death for us,” the AJK premier asserted. "Afridi should not play with the emotions of Kashmiris like this and there will be no compromise on Kashmir's independence," local media quoted Haider. He also urged the players to not give such statements.

On Wednesday, Shahid Afridi took to social media to clear his position after severe criticism by his fans and Pakistani media.

Afridi tweeted, "My comments are being misconstrued by Indian media! I'm passionate about my country and greatly value the struggles of Kashmiris. Humanity must prevail and they should get their rights."

https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1062694991850627074

https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1062703416017854464

The former cricketer further said, "My clip is incomplete & out of context as what I said before that is missing. Kashmir is unresolved dispute & under brutal Indian occupation. It must be resolved as per UN resolution. Myself along with every Pakistani support Kashmiri freedom struggle. Kashmir belongs to Pakistan".