NEW DELHI – All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday, July 28, 2025, launched a scathing attack on the Indian government regarding its decision to allow the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match in the 2025 Asia Cup. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor,” Owaisi questioned the morality of engaging in sporting ties with Pakistan in the wake of such a severe loss of lives.
During the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Owaisi passionately asked whether the Centre would “call the 26 people who died in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran in Pahalgam during the terror attack” and tell them that despite conducting a military operation, it was now time to watch a cricket match against Pakistan. The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, saw 26 people, mostly tourists, killed in Baisaran meadow.
“Does your conscience allow you to ask the family members of the people who were killed in Baisaran to watch India’s cricket match with Pakistan?…” Owaisi thundered. He drew a parallel with India’s stern stance on other fronts: “We are stopping 80% of Pakistan’s water, saying that water and blood will not flow together. Will you play a cricket match? My conscience does not allow me to watch that match. Does this government have the courage to call the 26 dead people and say we have taken revenge in Operation Sindoor, now you watch the match with Pakistan. It is a matter of profound regret.”
Beyond the cricket match, Owaisi vehemently criticized the government over the “accountability” for the Pahalgam terror attack, demanding that someone be held responsible—whether it be the Lieutenant Governor or police officials. He questioned the effectiveness of India’s security framework despite the heavy deployment of forces in the region. “Who did Pahalgam? We have a 7.5 lakh army and central paramilitary forces. From where did these four rats enter and kill our Indian citizens? On whom will accountability be fixed?” he demanded.
Highlighting ongoing security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370’s abrogation, Owaisi added, “If lieutenant governor is responsible, remove him; if it is police, then take action. But then you think you conducted one operation and people will forget. You should fix the accountability. What is your deterrence? And deterrence policy. You removed Article 370 and made a state into union territory – even after that, terrorists were able to reach the area.”
Owaisi’s remarks came after Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announced that the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman are placed in Group A, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for September 14, with potential for further matches if both teams progress to the Super Four and final stages.
Reacting to Owaisi’s comments, Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP, offered a differing perspective, stating that the Indian cricket team would give a fitting response on the field, mirroring the armed forces’ actions against terrorism. Speaking to ANI, Sangwan said, “Just how our army taught a lesson to those who shelter terrorists, our Indian Cricket team will teach them a lesson too if a match is played at an international level.”
The Lok Sabha’s debate on Monday afternoon specifically focused on “Operation Sindoor,” India’s strong and decisive response launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the discussion, detailing the operation which reportedly involved bombing nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, killing at least 100 terrorists, and was followed by a series of cross-border military escalations that ceased on May 10 after both nations reached an understanding.
Owaisi Slams Government Over India-Pakistan Cricket Match Amidst Pahalgam Attack Fallout
