'War is devastation,' Ali Zafar urges dialogue to resolve Pak-Ind crisis
Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar has called for urgent dialogue and international intervention as cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan intensify.
In a series of powerful tweets posted Thursday, Zafar urged restraint from both nations, warning of the catastrophic consequences of a war between two nuclear-armed countries.
“We just heard blasts from our home,” Zafar wrote, referring to aerial intercepts reportedly carried out by Pakistani forces to neutralise drones entering from across the border.
“To those beating the drums of war... do you truly understand what a war between two nuclear nations could mean? This isn’t a movie. War is devastation.”
We just heard blasts from our home.
To those beating the drums of war, celebrating violence, provoking further conflict — do you truly understand what a war between two nuclear nations could mean?
This isn’t a movie. War is devastation. Innocent lives — children, families — pay…Zafar’s comments come amid a spike in hostilities, with military exchanges and drone activity reported along various parts of the border.
His tweets reflect a dual message: a firm backing of Pakistan’s armed forces, and a strong appeal for peace and diplomatic engagement.
“Such provocations, risking innocent lives, are highly condemnable,” he continued.
“We have always had complete faith in our armed forces to protect us... But Pakistan’s desire for peace should never be mistaken for inaction.”
Calling on the international community to “intervene decisively — now,” Zafar emphasised that “dialogue is the only real solution,” urging leaders on both sides to talk, listen, and resolve the crisis before it spirals further.
From what I understand, the blasts were to intercept drones from across the border.
Such provocations, risking innocent lives, are highly condemnable.
We have always had complete faith in our armed forces to protect us and respond with strength and clarity when needed.
We stand… pic.twitter.com/cSRIVCz3eSAs explosions echo in border cities and tensions grip the subcontinent, Zafar’s voice joins a growing chorus within civil society urging unity, measured leadership, and a collective rejection of violence.
“Every life matters. Every nation deserves safety,” he wrote. “Pakistan hain to hum hain. Pakistan Zindabad.”
Latest tensions
The latest escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan follows the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which resulted in 26 fatalities. India immediately accused Pakistan-based elements of orchestrating the attack, although no evidence was provided. Islamabad has strongly rejected these allegations.
In retaliation, India closed the Wagah land border on April 23, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and revoked Pakistani visas. Pakistan responded by labeling any disruption to water flow as an "act of war" and closed the Wagah crossing on its side.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday, as reports from various cities in Pakistan, including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Muridke, and Bahawalpur, detailed multiple explosions. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that Indian airstrikes had targeted multiple locations within Pakistan. In response, Pakistan launched swift air and ground operations.
Within the first hour of retaliation, Pakistan announced the downing of five Indian fighter jets, including four Rafale aircraft, which India had recently acquired from France to strengthen its air defenses following the failed Balakot operation in 2019.
"Pakistan could have shot down 10 Indian fighter jets," Lt Gen Chaudhry said during a press briefing. "But Pakistan chose to exercise restraint."
Despite the scale of the response, Indian media remained largely silent on the losses. The Hindu, a prominent Indian newspaper, initially reported that three Indian jets had been downed but later removed the article, likely under pressure from the Indian government to avoid further embarrassment.
An American commentator on CNN stated that the potential loss of Rafale jets would severely damage India’s claim to air superiority, which it had built around the induction of these advanced French warplanes. Some experts speculated that the confrontation served as a test of Chinese and Western military technologies, particularly after Pakistan acquired J-10C jets from China in response to India’s Rafale fleet.
A senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that one Rafale jet had indeed been shot down by Pakistan, marking the first time that this sophisticated French aircraft had been lost in combat.
In another development, the Pakistan armed forces confirmed the neutralization of 25 Israeli-made Harop drones used by India in recent cross-border activity.
A statement issued by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday confirmed that these drones were shot down using both electronic countermeasures (soft-kill techniques) and conventional weaponry (hard-kill systems) after they were detected flying over multiple areas across Pakistan.
The ISPR described the drone incursions as a "desperate and panicked response" by India, which came after Pakistan’s retaliatory operations on May 6 and 7, in which five Indian fighter jets were downed and several military posts were struck.