Shafqat Amanat Ali condemns Uri attack

MUMBAI - Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali has come forward as the first artiste from Pakistan to condemn the Uri attack in which more than 18 Indian soldiers were killed.

Pakistani artistes, working in Bollywood, have been at the centre of a storm since the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened them to leave India in the wake of the attack and also demanded a ban on them from working in the film industry.

Shafqat, whose concert in Benguluru was cancelled last month after the attack, told a news channel,
"It is a terror attack and I condemn it, I strongly condemn it."

“…No one wants war as we all know the end results. If there is firing from one side, the other side always responds in the same way and that’s what is happening today,” said Ali

When asked why other Pakistani artistes haven't condemned the attack, the singer said, "As far as I know, Pakistani actors condemn any kind of attack which happens in any part of the world which is against any country because we have been suffering for so many years.

"We know how it feels when your soldier or civilian dies. So, I don't think any of them would say this (Uri) was right."

"The moment all this started, people started bashing them. Someone also wrote an open letter to Fawad which pushes you on the backfoot and you start thinking 'What just happened? Why suddenly an open letter to me?'. Ali Zafar, Fawad, Rahat (Fateh Ali Khan) or me, we will condemn a terror attack in any part of the world."