Pahalgam Attack Victims’ Families Question India-Pakistan Match Amid Unresolved Grief

As excitement builds for the upcoming India vs Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup, the families of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack have expressed deep anguish, questioning the decision to hold the high-profile game while their pain is still raw.

Sawan Parmar, who lost both his father and 16-year-old brother in the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, said the match feels like a betrayal. “When we heard that the India-Pakistan match is going to be held, it deeply disturbed us. No ties should remain with Pakistan,” he said in a statement to ANI. “If you want to go ahead with the match, then bring back my brother who was riddled with bullets. Operation Sindoor now feels like a waste.”

Operation Sindoor was launched by Indian security forces in response to the brutal attack, which killed 26 tourists. However, grieving families feel the government’s focus has shifted too quickly.

Sawan’s mother, Kiran Yatish Parmar, echoed his sentiments. “This match should not happen. I want to ask Prime Minister Modi – Operation Sindoor hasn’t even been completed, so why are we playing this match? Our wounds are still fresh,” she said. “I urge everyone in the country to visit the families of the victims and understand our pain before cheering for a cricket match.”

The India-Pakistan fixture, scheduled to take place in Dubai this Sunday, marks the two rivals’ first meeting since the Pahalgam tragedy. While many fans are eagerly awaiting the game, the emotional backlash from victim families has sparked a debate on whether sporting events should go on amid such unresolved trauma.

Former Indian cricketer and BJP leader Kedhar Jadhav also opposed the match, saying, “In my opinion, this match should not be played.”

Amid heightened emotions, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) issued an advisory on Saturday. It urged Kashmiri students across India to stay calm and treat the match as just a sporting event.

Nasir Khuehami, the association’s national convenor, said, “We’ve advised students to avoid controversial posts on social media that might create trouble. Their focus should remain on their education and future, which is why they left home in the first place.”

As the date of the match approaches, the divide between national excitement and the sorrow of grieving families remains stark—raising important questions about the timing and messaging around such high-profile events.

Source: ANI