Silence Beyond Condolences | Should Pakistani Artists Align More Closely with National Interests Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions?

While it is commendable that Pakistani artists like Fawad Khan, Hania Aamir, and others swiftly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the silence on an even graver provocation closer to home raises serious questions. Within hours of the attack, the Indian government not only blamed Pakistan without concrete evidence but also took hostile steps, including threatening to stop the flow of water — an act that under international law is considered an act of war.

 

In this critical moment, the Pakistani state has taken a clear, responsible stance: defending its sovereignty while condemning terrorism everywhere. Yet, where are the voices of our artists when it comes to standing with their own country? Why is there a rush to condemn a tragedy abroad — which should be condemned — but no urgency to call out injustice when Pakistan is directly threatened?

 

Indian media and government machinery did not hesitate to shut the doors on Pakistani artists years ago — banning their work, banning their names, and blacklisting their contributions. And yet, when Pakistan needs its own public figures to show unity, their silence is deafening.

This is not about politics; it’s about principle. Condemning terrorism and standing for your country should go hand in hand — not selectively, not when convenient. Our artists hold immense influence. In times like these, silence is not neutrality — it is abandonment.

The question remains: When will our artists find their voice for Pakistan too?

Text: SundusUnsarRaja @sublimerantr