Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has lashed out at Indian media outlets, referring to them as “Cartoon Network” in response to their coverage of India's recent military actions against Pakistan.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Afridi criticised the sensationalist and seemingly warmongering tone of Indian TV channels amid escalating tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).
His remarks came after the Indian military launched strikes that reportedly killed dozens of Pakistani civilians, including women and children.
Afridi wrote: “Indian media reminds me of Cartoon Network. Always loud, animated and never serious about facts.”
His comment, though laced with humour, underscores growing frustration in Pakistan over what officials describe as irresponsible journalism and fabricated war narratives by Indian broadcasters.
The ex-all-rounder's comments resonated widely on social media, with many Pakistanis applauding his blunt take on what they consider to be jingoistic reporting designed to provoke rather than inform.
Afridi’s statement reflects a broader sentiment in Pakistan where many believe Indian news channels are contributing to heightened regional instability through sensationalist coverage, especially during moments of cross-border conflict.
Sports transcend borders, religions, and politics.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 9, 2025
Today, it’s under attack - PSL pushed to Dubai, IPL suspended, and Indian drone strike outside Rawalpindi Stadium.
Cricket 🏏 once united us. Now it bleeds in the crossfire.
Indian media, instead of upholding journalistic…
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.
Unfazed by the Israeli-made armed drones, called "loitering munitions", sent by India over multiple cities of Pakistan, including Karachi, residents of the metropolitan city poured onto the streets in an extraordinary wave of solidarity with the armed forces.
The number of Indian drones downed by Pakistani armed forces had reached at least 77, security sources confirmed on Friday.
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