Cricket icon Shahid Khan Afridi expressed strong support for the Pakistan Armed Forces while also sharply criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies during a public rally held at Sea View in Karachi on Sunday.
Addressing a large gathering, Afridi paid tribute to the military, highlighting their role in national defense and their restraint amid regional tensions.
He also used the platform to comment on India’s internal policies, particularly regarding its treatment of religious and ethnic minorities.
“I had already said that Narendra Modi should behave like a human being,” Afridi stated.
“Minorities in India are facing oppression. Neither Muslims nor mosques, Sikhs or other minorities are safe there.”
He added, “Pakistan wishes for Indians to visit and play cricket here. But Narendra Modi’s mindset is questionable—he incites tensions and plays the ‘Hindu card.’ Now that his political mentor has entered the fray, we hope things will move in a better direction.”
Afridi also appreciated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s recent representation of Pakistan in the international media, calling it a "positive gesture".
Commenting on military tensions, he said, “India did not realise the extent of our skills and technology. They targeted our civilians, yet we refrained from doing the same to theirs.”