April 25, 2025: Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has raised strong objections to recent statements made by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who controversially referred to the terrorists behind the deadly attack in Pahalgam as “freedom fighters.” The Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks in the Kashmir Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
The terrorist group responsible for the attack, The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the massacre. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from across the globe, with leaders and organizations rallying against terrorism.
Kaneria, who has been vocal about his views on political matters, didn’t hold back in criticizing Ishaq Dar’s comments. The former cricketer termed Dar’s statement as “disgraceful” and labeled it an open admission of Pakistan’s continued support for terrorist elements. Kaneria, who has been an outspoken critic of Pakistan’s handling of terrorism, expressed his disappointment with the deputy PM’s comments, which he believed not only justified terrorism but also encouraged further violence.
On social media, Kaneria took to his platform (X, formerly known as Twitter) to call out Dar and Pakistan’s leadership. He also took the opportunity to address the silence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who had not publicly condemned the attack or Dar’s statement. Kaneria accused Sharif of “sheltering and nurturing terrorists,” further intensifying his criticism of the Pakistani government’s stance on terrorism.
This incident has added fuel to the ongoing debate about Pakistan’s role in supporting and harboring terrorists, which has been a contentious issue for years, especially in the context of its relationship with India and the continued conflict in Kashmir.