A Kerala-based community in Dubai has drawn intense backlash after warmly welcoming former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi at a recent cultural event. The controversy erupted following Afridi’s inflammatory remarks after the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 Indian lives.

In a widely circulated video, Afridi is seen being cheered with chants of "Boom Boom" as he praises Kerala and its cuisine. However, netizens have slammed the event, calling it “disgraceful” and “anti-national”, especially given Afridi’s recent statements blaming the Indian army for the attack and mocking Indian media coverage.

Afridi had earlier said, “You have 800,000 troops in Kashmir and still this happened… you are inefficient.” The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate, has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam strike.

Social media exploded with outrage, questioning the community’s patriotism and expressing deep disappointment over what many see as an insensitive gesture during a time of heightened Indo-Pak tensions.