Wed Apr 30 19:54:46 UTC 2025: ## Boxer Gaurav Bidhuri Slams Shahid Afridi’s Remarks on Pahalgam Attack
**NEW DELHI** – World championship bronze medalist boxer Gaurav Bidhuri has issued a strong rebuke to former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi following Afridi’s controversial comments on the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack. Afridi, in a televised interview, blamed Indian security forces for the attack, questioning their capabilities and criticizing India’s sportsmanship.
Bidhuri vehemently defended the Indian forces, highlighting the 1971 war surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers as evidence of Indian military prowess. He rejected Afridi’s accusations, stating that Pakistan’s support for terrorist organizations is well-known, referencing the claim of responsibility by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba linked group, “The Resistance Front.”
The boxer further contrasted the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Pakistan Super League (PSL), emphasizing the global prominence of Indian sports. He also pointed to recent examples of sports diplomacy between the two countries, citing Neeraj Chopra’s invitation to Pakistani Olympian Nadeem.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in Kashmir since 2019, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians and has drawn international condemnation. India has directly linked Pakistan-backed terrorist groups to the incident. Afridi’s comments, in which he questioned the effectiveness of India’s 800,000-strong army in Kashmir, sparked widespread outrage in India. Bidhuri’s response represents a strong counterpoint to Afridi’s assertions.
First Piper 