Pakistan Doesn’t Need Kashmir, It Can’t Even Handle Its Four Provinces: Shahid Afridi
NEW DELHI, Nov 14: Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has tossed up a new controversy with a comment on Kashmir, made on foreign soil. "Pakistan doesn't want Kashmir...Pakistan can't even manage its four provinces," the former cricket captain said in London.
The 38-year-old cricketer was addressing students at the British parliament when he made remarks that embarrass his own country and its new government headed by cricket legend Imran Khan.
"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...What is the big thing is insaniyat(humanity). People who are dying there, it is painful. Any death, be it from any community, is painful," Shahid Afridi was heard saying in a video posted on social media.
In April, the former Pakistani skipper had been clobbered on social media for a tweet commenting that there was an "appalling and worrisome situation" in Kashmir and urging the UN to intervene.
And before that, way back in 2016, Afridi had suggested that a lot of Kashmiri fans supported Pakistani cricketers.
In response to the comments, several Twitter users have reminded the cricketer that Pakistan has failed to dismantle terror sanctuaries on its soil and allows global terrorists like 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed to roam freely.
Pakistan's new government led by Imran Khan has not included Hafiz Saeed's terror outfits in its latest 'terror watch list', according to a media report.
A recent report said Pakistan remains a breeding ground and supporter of global terrorism and is responsible for three times the terror risk to humanity that Syria poses.
Country: www.ndtv.com
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
