When Javed Akhtar confronted Pakistani journalist over Terrorism question: Those people are roaming freely in your city 

When Javed Akhtar slammed a Pakistani Journalist in Lahore

The renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently spoke at an event in Mumbai about a memorable time when he was in Lahore and ended up in the middle of a heated argument with a Pakistani journalist.

The incident happened at a literary festival in Lahore, the cultural centre of Pakistan, where Akhtar was asked to speak about the relationship between India and Pakistan, with a special emphasis on the delicate subject of terrorism.

The conversation started when a female reporter asked him about the belief in India that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorists in an effort to change the country's view of Pakistan. Akhtar, who is renowned for being direct and honest, seemed to take offence at the reporter's question and gave a scathing response that made an impression.

Akhtar recalled, “I went to Lahore for a literary festival… They were asking me good questions and I was answering… A woman got up and told me that Indians consider them (Pakistanis) terrorists… I told her that I am a resident of Mumbai and I have seen my city burning. Those who came to burn it did not come from Sweden or Egypt; those people are roaming freely in your city even today.”

The statement emphasised the continued tension between the two countries, especially in light of cross-border terrorism, and made reference to the horrifying attacks in Mumbai, where terrorists from Pakistan broke into the city and caused chaos.

Akhtar, who has long advocated for peace and communication between India and Pakistan, also used the occasion to consider the two countries' shared cultural heritage. He noted that Indian culture has always welcomed Pakistan's contribution to the music industry, despite the tense political climate, and literature. He said, “We warmly welcomed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan and Faiz Ahmad Faiz… Even if the biggest of the Indian writers or Indian artists visited Pakistan, they were never invited on PTV.”

In spite of a shared cultural heritage, conflicts and hostilities often overshadow artistic collaborations, as Akhtar's comments demonstrated.

Akhtar further elaborated on his experience by revealing that his remarks had stirred significant controversy back in Pakistan. He described how, after the heated exchange, he returned to India the very next day, feeling fortunate that he had managed to leave before the situation escalated further. The incident, which garnered attention across the border, reflected the tense atmosphere between the two nations, where even cultural figures like Akhtar were caught in the crossfire of political tensions.

In his address, Akhtar condemned the brutality of the attack, stating, “They were mercilessly shot there. We should not forget this. This is nothing ordinary. Enemies and those who wish us evil, have their eyes on Mumbai.”

According to Akhtar, the attacks in Mumbai and Pahalgam were not isolated occurrences but rather were a part of a broader trend of animosity and violence directed towards India.

Despite being controversial, his comments capture the annoyance that many people have with the lack of accountability for those responsible for these attacks.