Boxer Gaurav Bidhuri reminds Shahid Afridi that ‘93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered in 1971’

Indian boxer and World Championship bronze medallist Gaurav Bidhuri has sharply criticised former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi for his comments on the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Afridi, appearing on Pakistani television, questioned the efficiency of India’s security forces and cast aspersions on India’s capabilities, triggering widespread outrage.

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Responding strongly, Bidhuri defended India's security forces and took aim at the sporting disparity between the two nations. Drawing a comparison between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he highlighted India’s prominence on the global sports stage. Bidhuri cited examples of Indian athletes fostering goodwill, such as Neeraj Chopra inviting Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem for a joint podium, countering Afridi’s narrative on sports diplomacy.

He also referenced historical military events, particularly the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops in 1971, as a reminder of India's strength. Bidhuri questioned the need to justify India’s counter-terror efforts, pointing out that global consensus recognises Pakistan's links to terror outfits. The Resistance Front, a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.

The Pahalgam tragedy stands as one of the deadliest incidents in Kashmir since the Pulwama attack in 2019. While the Indian government has held Pakistan-backed groups accountable, Afridi’s remarks have only deepened tensions between the two countries.