Kashmir ,May 2, 2025 – Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has issued a fervent appeal to the Central Government of India to take robust measures in response to provocative statements by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, whose recent speech has reignited tensions between the two nations. Speaking on May 1, 2025, Akhtar condemned Munir’s remarks invoking the two-nation theory, which emphasized differences between Hindus and Muslims, as not only inflammatory but also dismissive of Pakistan’s own Hindu minority.
Akhtar’s comments follow the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people in Kashmir, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks in the region since 2019. Referring to Munir’s April 17 speech in Islamabad, where he declared Hindus and Muslims as fundamentally distinct communities, Akhtar expressed outrage: “This has happened not just once but several times… I request the Central Government to take steps now. A few crackers on the border will not work. Take a solid step now. Do something so that the mad Army chief there—no sensible person can make a speech like he does… He says that Hindus and Muslims are different communities. He does not even care that there are Hindus in his country, too. So, do they have no respect?… What kind of man is he?”
The lyricist urged for a “befitting reply” to ensure Pakistan’s military leadership faces consequences for its rhetoric, stating, “They should get a reply so that they remember. They are not going to pay heed to anything less.” Emphasizing the urgency, Akhtar added, “I don’t know much about politics. But I do know that it is time for ‘aar ya paar’ (now or never).”
The India-Pakistan rivalry has intensified since the Pahalgam attack, with India accusing Pakistan of orchestrating cross-border terrorism—a charge Pakistan denies. Munir’s speech, which described Muslims as distinct from Hindus in “religion, customs, traditions, thinking, and aspirations,” has been widely criticised in India for stoking communal tensions and ignoring the existence of Hindu communities in Pakistan. In response, India has escalated diplomatic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading ties, and imposing visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals. Pakistan retaliated by closing the Wagah border and warning against any water diversion.
Javed Akhtar also touched on the cultural divide, opposing the participation of Pakistani artistes in Bollywood due to a lack of mutual respect. He cited the reverence shown to Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz in India, contrasting it with Pakistan’s failure to reciprocate such gestures. This sentiment echoes recent actions, such as the ban on Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s film Abir Gulal in India, reflecting public anger post-Pahalgam.
As voices like Akhtar’s amplify calls for action, the United Nations has urged both nations to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation. With Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warning of a potential Indian military strike, the region stands at a critical juncture.
