Javed Akhtar recounts the 26/11 Mumbai attack in Pakistan: ‘They are still roaming free’ | Watch

The writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was in Pakistan, reminded a crowd there that the culprits of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks are still at large in their nation, and that Indians are right in their grievances. Akhtar attended a celebration held in Lahore in honour of the legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. A video clip of Akhtar’s remark went viral on social networking sites.

According to The Print, Akhtar was responding to a person who requested him convey a message of peace to Indians and inform them that Pakistan is “a positive, pleasant, and loving country.”

“You have been to Pakistan numerous times…

When you return home, do you tell your folks that these are lovely people who are not just bombing us but also greeting us with garlands of flowers and love?” The audience member reportedly asked him.

Akhtar responded, “Let us not assign blame to one another. It will not fix problems. Jo garam hai fiza, woh kam honi chahiye. Hum toh Bambaiye log hain. Hamne dekha wahan kaise hamla hua tha. So log Norway se toh nahi aaye the naa Egypt se aaye the, wo log abhi bhi aapke mulk me ghum rahe hain. This environment must cool down if Hindustani culture continues to flourish, or else you will perish. I am from Bombay, and we all witnessed the city’s attack. The attackers were neither Norwegian nor Egyptian. They are still present in your country, therefore do not take offence if an Indian complains about this.

‘हम तो बंबई के लोग हैं, हमने देखा कैसे हमला हुआ था…वो लोग नॉर्वे से तो नहीं आए थे, न मिस्र से आए थे, वो लोग अभी भी आपके मुल्क में घूम रहे हैं’. – लाहौर के फ़ैज़ फेस्टिवल में जावेद अख्तर#FaizFestival2023#javedakhtar pic.twitter.com/s9s1cMYZqf

— Versha Singh (@Vershasingh26) February 21, 2023

Even though Pakistani musicians like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan have performed in India, Pakistan has never hosted a Lata Mangeshkar concert, the eminent lyricist reminded the audience.

“In India, Mehdi Hassan was a cult figure. Shabana (Azmi) hosted it when he visited India, and I wrote for the occasion, which was attended by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. When Faiz sahab visited, it appeared as though an authority was present… It was widely broadcasted. Have you ever viewed the interviews of Sahir (Ludhianvi), Kaifi (Azmi), or (Ali) Sardar Jafri on PTV? That was displayed in India and it occurred there… Hence, the communication barrier exists on both sides, though probably more on your side,” Akhtar was cited as saying by The Print.

Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba militants from Pakistan attacked buildings in Mumbai, killing 164 people. During the attacks, nine of the gunmen were killed and one survived. In November 2012, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman, was executed. They had travelled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan to Mumbai. The attackers boarded boats near the Gateway of India in Mumbai, kidnapped vehicles, including a police van, and divided into at least three groups to carry out the attacks.

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