The Indian Express, one of the most prominent news dailies of the country provided an ample amount of space to the views of a well-known India hater and war-monger Javed Miandad to preach peace at the time when tension is escalating between India and Pakistan. The former cricketer, seeing Pakistan on back foot, stated that war is of no good and urged, “It’s time to shake hands”.
However, Javed Miandad has a history of anti-India comments including a call for Jihad. In September 2016, after India conducted surgical strikes across Line of Control (LoC), Miandad spitted venom against India on one of the TV debates. Speaking as a panelist on Samaa TV, a Pakistan based news channel, former cricketer said, “We are ready for martyrdom. Our nation cannot be cowed down by hollow threats”.
“Ye laaton ke bhoot baaton se baaz nahi aate, inko laate hi maarni padengi (Pakistan shouldn’t get scared India’s empty threats, it should respond in action),”Miandad was quoted by the channel. “They (Indians) are cowards. Action is the best reaction,” he added.
Every Pakistani, even every child, is ready for martyrdom: Pakistani cricketing legend Javed Miandad after India's 'surgical strikes' claim pic.twitter.com/ykzuQpSkCw
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) September 29, 2016
Javed Miandad’s statements are full of hatred against India. Some of hi nasty, venomous lines to Pakistan’s Samaa TV include, ‘India is a scared country, it gets intimidated easily’, ‘I had hit a six against them years ago and they still remember it’, ‘They have to be hit for a six in another field’, ‘Indians should throw Modi out’, ‘Every Pakistan child ready for martyrdom’.
In the latest article by Javed Miandad in The Indian Express, the Pakistani cricketer hailed for peace and harmony between the two neighbouring countries and wrote, “India and Pakistan are two children who share the same mother. Good leaders always think about the well-being of their own countries. They want peace. Building relationship always helps. India and Pakistan have fought wars against each other. Did anybody gain anything? Did anybody manage to reach a conclusion? Whatever happened only added to the negatives”.
However, Javed Miandad has seemed to forget his “good deeds” of the past. Taking side of Pakistan PM Imran Khan, he further added, “Imran Khan has taken a big step by releasing the Indian fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. I don’t think any other Pakistan prime minister could have even thought about doing that”. Since his cricketing days, Miandad is well-known for his bad attitude. Be it his interaction with former Australian Pacer Dennis Lillee or with former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More, Miandad has time and again humiliated himself in attempts to make fun of others. It is nothing but shame for a talent of his stature to resort to such tactics in a Gentleman’s game.
Moreover, the past experiences apart, it’s quite strange for Pakistani celebrities to desire peace and appeal to Indian masses for the same, wherein all they should be doing is focusing on their own terror country, which will result in peace to prevail not only in the Indian subcontinent but worldwide. Though, it’s ironic that a peace appeal is coming from a person whose son is married to the daughter of one of the most wanted criminals, Dawood Ibrahim.
I don’t understand Pakistani celebrities writing in Indian newspapers begging for peace. Why don’t they tell their own govt to stop terror factories instead. Peace will immediately return to the subcontinent. https://t.co/Fu1u92CFsg
— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) March 7, 2019
Whatsoever be the case, the most shocking part of the whole issue is how a daily national of the country such as the Indian Express can give this level of importance to someone who has time and again lashed out against India. How a prominent Indian media house can stoop to such low by voicing the stand of a person who has the blood of so many Indians on his hand is truly baffling.