Even as debates rage and words are exchanged across the border over the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam earlier this week, former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has slammed his country’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar after he called the accused terrorists ‘freedom fighters’. Kaneria had earlier criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif too for his silence on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The attack in the Kashmir hill station was the deadliest assault in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. Dar, who is also the foreign minister besides being Sharif’s second-in-command, had said that “those who carried out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam district on April 22 might be freedom fighters”, sparking immense reactions. “When the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan calls terrorists ‘freedom fighters,’ it’s not just a disgrace — it’s an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism,” Kaneria tweeted on Thursday night. When the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan calls terrorists “freedom fighters,” it’s not just a disgrace — it’s an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism. pic.twitter.com/QlS1UDzq20 — Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 24, 2025 Meanwhile, the broadcast of the ongoing Pakistan Super League can be in jeopardy in the coming days, with all the experienced Indian crew members in the Pakistan Cricket Board roster all set to be replaced after escalating cross-border tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Pakistan terrorists are believed to be behind the killing of 26 Indians, who were visiting Kashmir’s Pahalgam area. The National Security Council, after a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, announced that all Indian nationals in Pakistan should leave the country in the next two days. India’s sporting fraternity expressed their grief as it joined the country in condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, with some demanding that the nation should cut all sports ties with Pakistan. The Resistance Front, a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and ace India batter Virat Kohli expressed shock as they mourned the loss of the 26 lives. “The affected families must be going through an unimaginable ordeal – India and the world stand united with them at this dark hour, as we mourn the loss of lives and pray for justice,” Tendulkar wrote. Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic attacks on innocent people in Pahalgam. The affected families must be going through an unimaginable ordeal – India and the world stand united with them at this dark hour, as we mourn the loss of lives and pray for justice. — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 23, 2025 Similar sentiments were expressed by other top players such as ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.