NEW DELHI: Days after
Shahid Afridi was roundly slammed for his controversial comments on Kashmir, former Pakistani cricketer
Shoaib Akhtar today expressed his wish to see an independent Kashmir in this lifetime.
Taking to Twitter, Akhtar said: "I wish one day in my life time I get a news of Kashmir, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan and all the troubled area of the world are free because my heart bleeds for humanity and loss of innocent life."
The tweet was later deleted.
In another tweet, he urged the youth of India and Pakistan to stand up for the cause of peace between the two neighbouring countries.
"Both side of youth need to stand up for India and Pakistan relationship and ask authorities right and difficult questions that why we haven’t even [been] able to sort out our pending issues for last 70 years. I ask you are you ready to live another 70 years of your lives with this hatred," the former fast bowler tweeted.
In a byte given to news agency ANI a few hours after posting these tweets, Akhtar said: "Both the governments need to talk about the issue, till when will we live in bloodshed? Do we want our children to live in such a situation? It has been 70 years, lives are being lost on both sides."
Earlier this week, Shahid Afridi had tweeted about the "appalling and worrisome situation" in the
Kashmir Valley and urged the UN to intervene in the matter.
"Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination and independence. Wonder where is the UN and other international bodies and why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed," Afridi said in a tweet.
His remarks had drawn backlash from all quarters, particularly Indian cricketers.
Former India opener
Gautam Gambhir mocked Afridi, saying the Pakistani cricketer "is, as usual, celebrating a dismissal off a no-ball".
Master blaster
Sachin Tendulkar pointedly said that "India can very well manage its internal affairs".
Cricketer Suresh Raina, who has roots in Kashmir, took to twitter to offer advise to Afridi.
"Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope Shahid Afridi bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence," Raina said in a tweet.
