Shahid Afridi, the voice of sanity amid Indo-Pak tensions

Calling for peaceful dialogue, he added, "Pakistan is a peace loving nation. Why talk abt extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues?"

Amid surging tensions between India and Pakistan, cricketer Shahid Afridi has urged both the countries to say no to war and resolve differences through dialogue.
"When two neighbours fight, both homes are affected," the former Pakistan cricket team captain tweeted.
Calling for peaceful dialogue, he added, "Pakistan is a peace loving nation. Why talk abt extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues?"

Pakistan is a peace loving nation,y talk abt extreme measures when things can be resolved through dialogues. Pakistan wants cordial 1/2
- Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial)

Relationship with all. When 2 neighbours fight both homes are effected. #sayno2war #pakistan #peace #india #neighbours
- Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial)

 
Afridi's tweets come across as a rare voice of sanity while both the countries battle it out on Twitter.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has reacted to Indian military's "surgical strikes" along the de facto border with Pakistan in Kashmir on Thursday.
One of the biggest and richest actors in the world, including in the Indian sub-continent, Shah Rukh took to social media to share his thoughts on the strikes, which were carried out to thwart a series of attacks being planned against major cities.
The patriotic star, whose father was one of India's youngest freedom fighters, is not one to mince his words and lauded the strikes against terrorists as well as urging the nation to pray for the soldiers:

Thnx Indian army for the action against terrorism.V should all pray for safety & well being of our Indian soldiers. pic.twitter.com/7gltoNP937
- Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk)

"The Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launchpads. Significant casualties have been caused to these terrorists and those who are trying to support them," Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, the army's director-general of military operations, had told reporters in Delhi in reference to the unofficial border in divided Kashmir.
The 50-year-old actor tweeted late Thursday night, while he is currently shooting for filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's next film (working title: The Ring) in Europe along with Anushka Sharma.
The attack have escalated tensions in the region with Pakistan calling the strikes 'deliberate' and 'falsified'. Pakistan Air Force said it is vigilant at all times and ready to combat any external aggression.
The army confirmed two casualties as a result of the firing.
Amid the intense diplomatic stand-off between New Delhi and Islamabad and cross-border firing, the United Nation has urged both neighbours to exercise restraint, with the US National Security ter on Thursday, the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) decided to ban Pakistani artistes and technicians from working in India till ongoing bilateral tensions die down, a spokesperson said. 
Most of the Indian politicians hailed the strikes and congratulated the Indian army.

Congratulations to the Indian Army for the successful operation.
- Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar)

I congratulate Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi and Indian Army for surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
- Amit Shah (@AmitShah)

Congratulations to #IndianArmy for carrying out #SurgicalStrikes. Our Government is committed to counter the menace of terrorism
- Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu)

#IndiaStrikesPak as Special Forces of Indian Army neutralised over 40 Pak terrorists during #SurgicalStrikes. Right way PM #ModiPunishesPak. pic.twitter.com/fOIWpKnynu
- Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) September 29, 2016

A time comes in the life of a country when offence becomes the right defence. Precious brave lives of our soldiers ought never go in vain..
- Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 29, 2016

???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 29, 2016

Facing vagaries of nature, fearlessly protecting our Borders and our Honour-take a bow, Indian Army! You are our Pride????! #SurgicalStrike
- Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) September 29, 2016

 
 
On the other hand, Pakistanis have denied the surgical strikes, saying India's claim is nothing but illusion.
 

Indian claims are a complete fabrication designed to calm domestic pressure on Modi. @Karma_Paljor @CNNnews18
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

Indian observers will soon realize that Modi's "56 inch chest" is a chest full of lies.
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

Indian media should ask Indian DGMO, how exactly can you drop paratroopers inside #Pakistan without violating its airspace, catapult maybe?
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

Indian spin doctors coupled LoC firing with massive media disinformation campaign to give a false impression of a surgical strikes. 1/3
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

There was an exchange of fire on the LoC initiated by the Indian Army, no surgical strikes took place. 2/3
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

Indian claims of a surgical strike is crude propaganda meant for domestic consumption for bailing Modi out of the situation politically. 3/3
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

@ISPR_Official India is claiming surgical strike, stop the nonsense and explain to us how they lying & what you doing?
- ??? ????? (@afzaal_k) September 29, 2016

LoC Update: There was heavy 'artillery shelling' at LoC earlier today. Indian Army calling it a 'surgical strike' just to save Modi's face.
- Ground Reality (@faujitweets)

 
Pakistan also accused the Indian government of hiding the news about the death of six Indian soldiers in cross-border firing.
 

Indian media outlets should question the Indian DGMO about the fate of 6 Indian Army casualties in the crossfire.
- Pakistan Defence (@defencepk)

 
 
Many others in Pakistan tweeted about 'time for revenge' against India.

@ISPR_Official we need revenge of our 2 martyred soldiers of Pakistan
- Arslan Naseer (@RanaArslan0987) September 29, 2016

ISPR
Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing on loc in Bhimber, hotspring, kel, and... https://t.co/IJhBKMfA8M
- ISPR (@ISPR_Official)

 
(Compiled by Nilanjana Gupta, Yousuf Saifuddin)
nilanjana@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan