Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has reacted to the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that claimed 28 innocent lives. Late on Wednesday night, a day after the incident, Khan took to his Instagram stories to condemn the attack and express sadness over the lives lost.”
Fawad Khan posted on his official Instagram stories, “Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time.”
Fawad`s statement comes amid backlash over his upcoming film Abir Gulaal with co-star Vaani Kapoor. The film was set to mark his return to Bollywood after nine years. He was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in India, after which Pakistani artists were banned from working here.
Boycott Abir Gulaal protests intensify
Calls to boycott the release of Abir Gulaal in India have intensified following the Pahalgam attack. Amid escalating tensions, Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film & Television Directors` Association, has called for a boycott of those who collaborate with Pakistani artists. Meanwhile, the President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also taken a firm stance against the release of Abir Gulaal.
“This incident is an act of war against the nation. This isn’t the first time… these attacks have been ongoing for 30 years. We, as a federation, have requested with folded hands not to work with Pakistanis. They come up with bulls*** reasons like artist or community, but ultimately, the nation must come first. People think, ‘agar mere ghar ka aadmi nahi mara toh f**k it, I don’t care,’ but if this film’s heroine or the makers’ family members had been shot by the terrorists, they wouldn’t have worked with Fawad,” said Pandit, adding, “We will issue an order that anyone who works with Pakistani artists will be boycotted by the industry.”
About the Pahalgam terror attack
A terror attack occurred at the Pahalgam hill station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. Over 20 tourists, including Indian nationals and two foreigners, were shot dead by terrorists in the valley.
According to reports, two to three terrorists wearing army fatigues opened fire on horse-riding tourists in the Baisaran area around 2:30 p.m. Baisaran is a small meadow located 3 to 4 kilometers from the Pahalgam market, typically accessed by tourists via horseback due to the absence of motorable roads.
Five terrorists — including three Pakistani nationals and two residents of Jammu and Kashmir — have been identified as the perpetrators of the horrific attack, which is being described as the worst terror strike to hit the region in nearly two decades.
Investigative agencies named the three Pakistani nationals as Asif Fauji (code name Moosa), Suleman Shah (code name Yunus), and Abu Talha (code name Asif).
Two other Valley-based operatives — Adil Guri, a local from Bijbehara in Anantnag who went to Pakistan in 2018, and Ahsan, a resident of Pulwama who also went to Pakistan in 2018 — were also identified, according to sources.
