Not the first time: Javed Akhtar’s remarks against Pakistan over the years

Indian playwright Javed Akhtar has been a constant critic of Pakistan and its government. The lyricist's recent visit to Lahore for the 7th Faiz Festival has created quite a stir on social media.

Apart from expressing his love for the legendary Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz and respecting all languages, his controversial remarks about the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks roaming freely in Pakistan have angered many. However, this isn’t the first time the scriptwriter has expressed derogatory comments against Pakistan.

Javed Akhtar on Uri Attacks

In 2016, Akhtar told Times Now that Pakistani actors’ silence on the Uri attack is because they feel Pakistan is responsible for it. Speaking to Times Now, the 78-year-old artist said, “Their silence is a kind of confession from Pakistani actors that Pakistan is responsible for it. This is the least they (actors) can do."

He went on to comment, "If Pakistan says that ‘we are not responsible for it (the Uri attack)’, I don’t see any reason why Pakistani artists or any Pakistani citizen should not condemn Uri and this kind of terrorist attack. Because they say that we’re not responsible for it, then wonderful, come out and condemn it! Any Pakistani who keeps quiet about it is condoning our statement that actually Pakistan is responsible for it.”

On Pulwama Attack

In 2019, Akhtar and his wife, popular Indian actor Shabana Azmi, were supposed to attend an event organised in memory of poet Kaifi Azmi by the Arts Council, which the cancelled following the Pulwama attack. At that time, Akhtar had taken to social media to announce his decision of backing out from the festival.

He tweeted, "Karachi Art Council had invited. Shabana and I for a two-day literature conference about Kaifi Azmi and his poetry. We have cancelled that. In 1965 during the Indo-Pak war, Kaifi saheb had written a poem, Aur Phir Krishna Ne Arjun Se Kaha'."

He also criticised former Prime Minister Imran Khan for denying responsibility for the attack. Akhtar tweeted, “Imran has thrown a no-ball. Every time they ask what makes you think it's our doing? After the Mumbai terrorist attack, a Pakistani TV anchor asked me why you are so sure it is Pakistan; it can be any country. I said fine, I will give you three [countries], you choose one. Brazil, Sweden and Pakistan.”

Akhtar on 26/11 Mumbai attacks

Akhtar has been vocal about his opinions against the Pakistani Government, over the years, on his social media and tweeted multiple times about various incidents. Most recently, the Jee Le Zara lyricist said that Indians have catered several events for Pakistani artists, such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan, but Pakistan has never hosted Lata Mangeshkar. The audience applauded his comment.

He further said that they shouldn’t blame each other. He continued: “That won’t solve issues. The ongoing political turmoil needs to cool down. I am from Mumbai and all of us witnessed the attack on the city. The attackers weren’t from Norway, or from Egypt. They are still present in your country, so you should not be offended if an Indian complains about this.”

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.