Pak audience clapped at Javed Akhtar's 26/11 attacker remark, says millions want to connect with India

New Delhi: Indian musician Javed Akhtar recently went viral for his statement about the 26/11 attackers. He was in Lahore, Pakistan for a festival last week when he said 26/11 attackers are roaming free in Pakistan.

He said even the Pakistani audience agreed with him and clapped at the remark.

Speaking to NDTV, the writer and poet said: "There are many people who admire India, and want to have a relationship with us. We tend to think of countries as monoliths. That is not the case. How do we connect with millions of people who want to connect with India."

When asked if this is the right time to engage in talks with Pakistan, he said he does not have the calibre to respond to the query and people in power understand what is happening and how to go about it. "People who are in power, who are holding that position, understand what is happening, what is the situation, and how to go about it."

He asserted that the Pakistan Army, Pakistani people, and Pakistani establishment are not on the same page. "We in India have very limited information about Pak people. Same is the case with them."

Akhtar was in Lahore to attend an event in memory of legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Someone in the audience asked him: "You have visited Pakistan so many times. When you go back, do you tell your people that these are good people? They aren't just bombing us but also greeting us with garlands and love?"

He responded by saying that Indians and Pakistanis should not blame each other because it will solve nothing. "The atmosphere is tense, that should be doused. We are people from Mumbai, and we have seen the attack on our city. They (attackers) did not come from Norway or Egypt. They are still roaming free in your country. So if there is anger in the Hindustani's heart, you can't complain."

He also said India has hosted Pakistani artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan but Pakistan never hosted a Lata Mangeshkar show. "Mehdi Hassan was a cult figure in India. When he visited India, Shabana (Azmi) hosted it. I wrote for the event which was graced by the likes of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. When Faiz sahab visited, it seemed like an authority was visiting…it was broadcast all over. Have you ever seen Sahir (Ludhianvi), Kaifi (Azmi), or (Ali) Sardar Jafri’s interviews on PTV? It was shown in India, it happened there… So the communication blockade is from both sides and perhaps more from your side," reported The Print.

Many in social media called his remarks "a surgical strike" and "showing a mirror to Pakistan".