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India’s Operation Sindoor, a swift and targeted military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, has not only redrawn the security landscape but also sparked a fierce war of words online. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of cricket, where a single social media post by former Pakistan women’s cricketer Javeria Khan has ignited a digital firestorm, exposing deep divisions and prompting intense debate across both nations.
Javeria Khan shares her views on the Operation Sindoor
In the aftermath of the Indian Armed Forces’ precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir-an operation that reportedly neutralized over 100 terrorists and destroyed nine camps-Javeria took to social media to voice her condemnation. Her post, which accused India of targeting civilians and lamented the loss of innocent lives, quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Javeria took to X and wrote, “It is not bravery to attack civilians in the dark of night, take innocent lives, including little children. It is distressing to see Indian accounts with large followings find it joyful. There is no pride in shedding blood. There is no honour in killing innocent people.”
The backlash was immediate and intense. Indian netizens, many of whom viewed the operation as a justified and carefully executed counter-terror mission, accused Javeria of spreading misinformation and dishonouring the memory of the Pahalgam victims. Critics highlighted official statements from the Indian military, which emphasized that the targets were exclusively terror infrastructure and that every precaution was taken to avoid civilian casualties.
It is not bravery to attack civilians in the dark of night, take innocent lives, including little children.
It is distressing to see Indian accounts with large followings find it joyful. There is no pride in shedding blood. There is no honour in killing innocent people.
— Javeria Khan (@ImJaveria) May 7, 2025
Social media draws varied reactions from other cricketers
Javeria’s comments were not isolated. Other Pakistani celebrities, including actors and influencers, also faced criticism for their reactions to Operation Sindoor, with Indian netizens pointing out their silence on the original Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. The digital divide was stark: while many in Pakistan condemned the strikes as unjustified, Indian cricketing legends like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir publicly hailed the armed forces, framing the operation as a necessary step to protect national security and deliver justice.
The controversy underscores the unique influence of sports figures in South Asia, where cricket is more than a game-it is a vessel for national identity and collective emotion. When athletes speak, their words carry weight far beyond the boundary ropes. In this case, Javeria’s post became a lightning rod for outrage, demonstrating how quickly narratives can escalate in the age of social media, especially when national pride and security are at stake.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
