Why Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum waved the Indian flag at Nepal concert and why it sparked debate

Why Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum waved the Indian flag at Nepal concert and why it sparked debate

Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum has become the unexpected focal point of a cross-border controversy after a video emerged of him waving the Indian tricolour during a live concert in Nepal. The viral clip shows the 30-year-old artist accepting the flag from an audience member, waving it proudly, and then draping it across his shoulders as he continued performing. The moment nstantly ignited divided reactions across social media.

The gesture has been praised by many as a rare symbol of cultural solidarity in a region marked by political hostility. But in Pakistan, the act sparked a wave of backlash, with some online commentators accusing Anjum of disrespect and calling the moment “inappropriate” for a public figure.

As the criticism grew, the rapper took to X to clarify his position, asserting that the act was not political but human.
“My heart has no place for hate. My art has no borders. If me raising an Indian flag sparks controversy so be it. I’ll do it again,” he wrote. “I will never care about the media, the war-mongering governments and their propagandas. Urdu rap is and will always be borderless.”

His statement only deepened the discourse, as social-media users from India and Pakistan debated on nationalism, artistic expression, and the boundaries of cultural exchange. Some lauded him for transcending political divides, while others questioned the implications of a Pakistani artist waving a rival nation’s flag.

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Who is Talha Anjum?
Born and raised in Karachi, Talha Anjum is one of Pakistan’s leading rap stars and a co-founder of the influential duo Young Stunners. Since their breakout track Burger-e-Karachi in 2012, Talha Anjum and his longtime collaborator Talha Yunus have helped shape the Urdu hip-hop movement, amassing a huge fanbase across South Asia.

Beyond music, Talha Anjum ventured into acting in 2024 with the film Kattar Karachi, co-starring Kinza Hashmi and Imran Ashraf. He has more than 3 million followers on Instagram.

Talha Anjum was already a trending topic in Indian rap circles because of his public feud with Mumbai-based rapper Naezy. In an interview, Naezy dismissed his popularity, saying, “He thinks everyone knows him and that he is like AR Rahman. He’s safe because he’s in Pakistan. Now, he cannot visit India. In Mumbai, he would have been beaten like a dog.”

Anjum retaliated with a diss track titled Kaun Talha, which quickly went viral.