In India, on April 28, his YouTube channel was blocked shortly after a massacre in Pahalgam, wherein 26 persons were slain in the Kashmir region. Akhtar’s channel was among the 17 that the Indian government took the decision to block. He is quite famous in India for his commentary regarding Cricket and for his views on matches happening around the world, which is why the blocking of his channel is a big piece of news.
Among the channels that got the axe were a mix of a few very prominent Pakistani news outlets: Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, to name a few. These 63 million subscribers put together; they were a major chunk of influence in the media landscape.
In the cricketing sphere, Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, made a very bold statement about the matter. He openly declared that, going forward, India would never have any cricketing ties with Pakistan, especially after this recent attack. The attacks were condemned widely, allegedly by The Resistance Front, which targeted innocent tourists.
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Since 2013, no bilateral series has been played between India and Pakistan, with their matches restricted to international tournaments. Just earlier this year, when India was to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, they decided instead to play all matches in Dubai.
Many cricketers, including former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, condemned the attack and urged the BCCI not to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan. Ganguly strongly stated that action must be taken, saying, “It is unacceptable that this keeps happening year after year: we cannot tolerate terrorism.” This was further emulated in many of the sentiments that followed any such unfortunate incident.
In light of the attack, Prime Minister Modi promised action against all who had reached beyond condemnation. During an address in Bihar on April 24, he said: “We will hunt down every terrorist and those who support them. We won’t rest until justice is served.” That was a strong signal against terrorism against which a nation rallied.
In another amusing twist, 23 Indian nationals were sent back to India on April 27 by the Government of Pakistan after they were working for the production and broadcasting of the PSL. This came in the wake of a general downturn in relations between the two countries due to rising tension. According to a PCB official, these Indian professionals made their return via the Wagah border, a transit route that has historic significance for both nations.
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The developments present a very tangled picture of India-Pakistan relations, especially in the fields of sport and media. The most recent events affect the cricket scene but also showcase deeper issues at work, and it is clearly apparent that the way ahead is going to be rocky for both sides. The leaders and athletes alike keep voicing a strong stand against terror and violence, while the incident’s fallout stands against the hopes of peace and cooperation.
