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A wave of grief and fury has swept across Pakistan, including its celebrities, following the Indian military’s late-night airstrikes on six sites in Pakistan on Wednesday — including Sialkot, Bahawalpur, and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir — in what New Delhi dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the unprovoked attack claimed 31 lives and left 57 injured, including women and children. On Thursday, the ISPR said it has shot down 25 Indian drones since last night. In the wake of the attacks, Pakistani celebrities have taken to social media to condemn the violation of sovereignty, the loss of innocent civilian lives, and the insensitivity of Indian public figures, who have chosen to celebrate this escalation.

Many, including Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Karan Johar, Sidharth Malhotra and Sarah Ali Khan, among several others, praised the Indian armed forces for “fighting terrorism” without acknowledging the innocent lives lost.

As Indian public figures praise their armed forces for “precision strikes,” Pakistani artists are mourning the loss of children and civilians, questioning whether peace will ever be more than a slogan.

Reactions

Hasan Raheem

Singer Hasan Raheem voiced what many in Pakistan are feeling — a dismay not just at the loss of life, but at the celebration of that loss. In a sombre video message on Instagram, he remarked, “I just wanted to clarify that the problem is not that Pakistan was behind the Pahalgam attack, we asked for proof and we didn’t get it, but regardless it is not for you or me to find out sitting in our homes, it’s above us.”

What needs to be talked about is that last night, people died, a child died, and I saw the collective response of your nation while sitting in my room, I saw your joy,“ he lamented. “When the Pahalgam attack happened, everyone in Pakistan condemned it. Every person said that this was a terrorist attack. We also said we are not behind this. We can’t be. We have seen enough atrocities.”

Urwa Hocane

Actor Urwa Hocane called out prominent Indian actors for applauding the attack while ignoring the human cost.

“Literally no one in Pakistan celebrated Pahalgam even though we were wrongly accused for it!” Hocane wrote in her Instagram story. “And they are celebrating killing our innocent children and women! Cowards of the highest form!”

She didn’t hold back in her critique of Bollywood’s long-standing bias. “Every film of theirs has a few minutes of agenda and that’s exactly how slow and steady they have polluted Pakistan’s image in the entire world! Reclaim your truth, self-respect and loyalty!”

With the situation escalating, several celebrities have called for a cultural boycott of Indian films, music, and celebrity content. The appeal is gaining traction online as fans and influencers echo the sentiment: a line has been crossed.

Hina Altaf

Actor Hina Altaf urged followers to unfollow and unsubscribe from Indian celebrities and content, asking Pakistanis to reconsider cultural admiration for those who stay silent or celebrate Pakistani suffering.

“Pakistan condemns the loss of innocent lives both in our homeland and yours. But it’s heartbreaking to see joy and celebration over the pain we’re going through,” she shared. “All I ask is unfollow, unsubscribe, and step back from ‘THEM’. While some voices across the border promote war, we continue to speak of peace. But all this can’t be one-sided.”

Humayun Saeed

Humayun Saeed stressed Pakistan’s right to defend itself and the importance of honouring the victims.

“India’s obsession with war and its cowardly attack on Pakistani soil following fabricated allegations without an iota of proof has brought our region dangerously close to chaos and instability,” wrote Saeed in his story.

“I have always advocated for peace and still do but there’s absolutely no way we can let anyone get away with killing our children. Let it be known that any attack on us will be met with a befitting response, as the world witnessed last night. Pakistan always Zindabad!”

Talha Anjum

Anjum’s tribute to the slain child and repost of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement was powerful:

The rapper shared a picture of the child noting, “26 civilians have lost their lives in this cowardly attack by the Indian forces. 4 of these casualties happen to be children. Now you will see Indian media glorify this war-mongering Modi government. Prayers go out to the families of the victims. Pakistan Zindabad.”

In another story, he reposted what the PM said about the incident which is, “India’s heartless mockery of the loss of innocent lives in Pakistan will forever be remembered in history in the worst words.” Anjum urged people to “never forget!”

Mehwish Hayat

Actor Mehwish Hayat reiterated that while Pakistan has always sought peace, the nation will not “bow down to intimidation.”

Detailing how her day began with the news that Pakistan’s soil was violated by Indian missiles and the blood of innocent civilian lives, she said, “I stand with every Pakistani in condemning this cowardly attack against our sovereign nation.”

She added, “They may break our buildings, but never the spirit that built this nation. As our founding father Quaid-e-Azam declared, ‘There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.’ His words echo through history and strengthen our resolve today. My untold gratitude and respect for our brave armed forces standing vigilant at the borders, ready to defend every inch of our sacred homeland.”

##Hina Khwaja Bayat

Actor Hina Khwaja Bayat reminded her followers of the tragedy of war.

She shared a post writing, “For all the warmongers who are gloating over ideas of revenge and victory; lives are lost, livelihoods are erased, families are destroyed! No one wins a war. Peace is the only answer! Wake up #India #Pakistan.”

Sarah Khan

Actor Sarah Khan also took a more grief-stricken approach, connecting the pain in Pakistan to global injustices. She penned in a story, “From Gaza to Kashmir, from Palestine to Pakistan and India, the blood of the innocent keeps staining our soil. This is not defence. This is not justice. This is grief on repeat. How many more mothers must scream at the sky before the world listens? If war made us stronger, we would’ve been unbreakable by now. But war has only made us numb. Divided. Lost.”

Abdul Hannan

Singer Abdul Hannan also wrote a detailed note reiterating that several Pakistanis, including the musician community, condemned the Pahalgam attack, and even though there was no direct evidence linking it to Pakistan, India attacked Pakistan in the dead of the night.

“The incident last night, which tragically involved the killing of a child, was heartbreaking and inhumane,” he wrote. “I’ve always held my Indian audience in the highest regard. In times like these, it’s disheartening not to see the same level of empathy reflected across the border. While many of us spoke out against violence, witnessing any form of celebration in the wake of tragedy is deeply saddening.”

Hadiqa Kiani

Singer Hadiqa Kiani renewed the call for peace writing, “We need peace, we need stability. No more bloodshed. Praying for the innocent lives taken away from us. Praying for peace.”

AUR

In light of the situation, ‘Tu Hai Kahan’ band AUR asked everyone to “choose which content you consume, know your power.”

Sehar Khan

Noting how India’s hateful rhetoric against Pakistan has only caused so much damage over the years, actor Sehar Khan penned, “So many years have passed but this hate from India has never stopped. Now it’s enough. Not anymore.”

Addressing India, she said she has no sympathy left in her heart for our neighbours, not after the attack and its aftermath at least. “You’re no longer a neighbour. You’ve become our enemy. You crossed into our land. You killed our people. But we made sure you got the lesson you came looking for. Loud and clear. Now hear this: Just. Stay. Away.”

She told Indians to live with their hate, their false pride, and their propaganda. “We don’t want your friendship. We don’t want your fake peace. Stay away from our borders, from our people, from our soil because next time, we won’t just shoot you down. We’ll remind you what standing against Pakistan really costs. Pakistan Zindabad. Always.”

Samar Jafri

Actor and singer Samar Jafri felt disheartened to see Bollywood actors celebrating India’s attacks on Pakistan. “Disheartened to see how we as neighbours are filled with hatred because of dirty politics,” he wrote.

In subsequent Instagram stories, he pointed out that access to Pakistani stars’ Instagrams in India was being blocked to stop people from seeing the false narratives being spread by the Indian government.