SRINAGAR: Former Pakistan international cricketer Shahid Afridi has asked India and Pakistan to leave Kashmir "for the sake of humanity" and let Kashmiris decide their own future. “Don’t give Kashmir to Pakistan or India either. Let them be independent. Humanity is big thing. Human are being killed there (Kashmir). It hurts to see humans are being killed whatever religion they may belong,” Afridi said while addressing the students at British Parliament.
“Pakistan doesn't need Kashmir; it is not able to even handle the four provinces it has,” Afridi can be heard in a video of the press interaction. However, while admitting that Pakistan had failed in its efforts to keep the country united and safe from extremists, the former cricketer ranted that people were dying in Kashmir and it pains to see that happen. “Say Pakistan doesn't need Kashmir, don't give it to India as well, let Kashmir become a country. The people dying there should not die, humanity should stay alive. It pains to see people die there,” he told the press.
It is not the first time that Afridi has commented on the Kashmir issue. Earlier this year too, he had tweeted on the matter in April. “Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren’t they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?” he had written on the social media platform.