To leave India, one has to be there in the first place

Indian extremists may be calling for the exit of Pakistani artists, but few are aware where they actually are

KARACHI: Escalation on the India-Pakistan border might still be a long shot, but escalation on social media has certainly taken a hilarious turn. With war hysteria giving ‘journalists’ and trolls in both countries something new to talk about, there are some who in hopes of getting attention, have begun to call for the heads of Pakistani artists making a mark in India.

While few take seriously what Indian nationalist parties come up with every now and then, an Indian journalist recently wrote an open letter, asking for actor Fawad Khan to be thrown out of India following the Uri base attack. Taking a cue, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) handed Pakistani artists a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the country.

One Indian publication went as far as to claim Fawad had 'secretly' fled India with no plans to return until the situation between the two countries was under control. However, all this really begs an important question: how can you leave a country where you are not present there in the first place?



Talking to The Express Tribune, a close friend of Fawad said the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil star has been in Pakistan for the past month and a half, adding that his wife is expecting.

Requesting anonymity, he said, “He only went to India for a one day almost three weeks ago and was recently in Bangkok for a shoot. For the most part, he has been in and around Lahore.”



Mahira Khan, whose tent-pole project Raees is set to hit screens next year, hasn't visited India in a while now. However, she has been taking on trolls all in the comfort of her home in Karachi. 
A source close to the Pakistani diva said, "Mahira was in Lahore to attend the launch of Indian jewellery brand Diva’ni. Yes, she has been in Pakistan only, reading scripts offered to her.”

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On the other hand, actor-singer Ali Zafar is also nowhere close to India's territorial bounds. Having returned from a US and Canada tour in the first week of September, Zafar has been busy with his Defence Day song collaboration with Atif Aslam.
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Of late, he has been making many public appearances in Pakistan -- the most notable one being his Magnum Party attendance where he made a live painting on stage, using melted chocolate. “He has been busy working on a number of Pakistani projects, which include both films and music,” a member of his management team said.


PHOTO: FILE

Similar information was received from the teams of Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. While the former last visited India two months ago, he was recently seen at a get-together of artists at drummer Farhad Humayun’s place in Lahore.

PHOTO: FILE

Riding high on the success of his Coke Studio 9 songs, most notably his collaboration with the late qawwal Amjad Sabri, Rahat has not visited India in eons. Ever since his money laundering issues, he has been recording songs in Pakistan and Dubai only.

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