Afridi, Gambhir in Twitter spat over Kashmir

Afridi has been involved in social media fights with Gambhir in the past as the latter is now a member of Modi's BJP

NEW DELHI: Former stars of fierce cricket rivals India and Pakistan traded online barbs Tuesday over New Delhi's explosive decision to strip Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) of its autonomous status.

Indian ex-cricketer Gautam Gambhir took a swipe at Pakistan's Shahid Afridi after he urged the United Nations to intervene in the move to bring the disputed territory under the national government's direct rule.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist party on Monday rushed through a presidential decree to scrap IOK's special status from the constitution .

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"Kashmiris must be given their due rights as per #UN resolution. The rights of Freedom like all of us," Afridi, who announced his retirement from international cricket last year after playing 398 one-day matches, wrote on Twitter.

Kashmiris must be given their due rights as per #UN resolution. The rights of Freedom like all of us. Why was @UN created & why is it sleeping? The unprovoked aggression & crimes being committed in Kashmir against #Humanity must be noted. The @POTUS must play his role to mediate

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 5, 2019

"Why was @UN created & why is it sleeping? The unprovoked aggression & crimes being committed in Kashmir against #Humanity must be noted. The @POTUS must play his role to mediate."

Kashmiris must be given their due rights as per #UN resolution. The rights of Freedom like all of us. Why was @UN created & why is it sleeping? The unprovoked aggression & crimes being committed in Kashmir against #Humanity must be noted. The @POTUS must play his role to mediate

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 5, 2019

Afridi has been vocal about his political views online, often getting in to a social media fights with Gambhir, who is now a member of parliament for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

The 37-year-old Gambhir, who quit all forms of cricket in December, was quick to respond to Afridi's post.

"@SAfridiOfficial is spot on guys. There is "unprovoked aggression", there r "crimes against humanity"," said Gambhir.

@SAfridiOfficial is spot on guys. There is “unprovoked aggression”, there r “crimes against humanity”. He shud be lauded 👏for bringing this up. Only thing is he forgot to mention that all this is happening in “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir”. Don’t worry, will sort it out son!!! pic.twitter.com/FrRpRZvHQt

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 5, 2019

"He shud be lauded for bringing this up. Only thing is he forgot to mention that all this is happening in "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir". Don't worry, will sort it out son!!!"