Ayesha Khan Faces Backlash for 'Liking' Controversial Post Saying 'Indians Are Not Welcome In Kashmir'

News18

27-04-2025

Ayesha Khan faced backlash after liking a post by Kashmiri writer Jalees Hyder on Instagram, which spoke about 'freeing Kashmir' and criticized Indian presence in the valley.
Ayesha Khan is facing significant backlash after reportedly 'liking' a controversial post on social media that stated, 'Indians are not welcome in Kashmir." The actress, known for her stint on Bigg Boss 17, has come under the scanner of social media users. The Instagram post in question spoke about 'freeing Kashmir' and Indians not being welcomed in the valley.
It was Kashmiri writer Jalees Hyder on his Instagram handle. 'I mourn the loss of civilian life, always. But let's not confuse that grief with the erasure of reality. Kashmir is not your aesthetic escape, your spiritual pitstop, or your Instagrammable paradise. It is the most densely militarized region in the world, and the people who call it home do not live in peace. They live under occupation, under surveillance, under the constant threat of violence, torture, enforced disappearances, and systematic erasure," a part of the post read.
It further stated, 'So no, as an Endian, you are not welcome in Kashmir to normalize its occupation, to romanticize our pain, or to turn our homeland into a tourist fantasy. Every photo you take that pretends this land is heaven on earth without acknowledging the brutal reality on the ground is a form of violence."
'We are not hostile to visitors, we are hostile to colonizers, to enablers, to those who look at our trauma and call it scenic. We will welcome the world with open arms once Kashmir is free," the writer added.
Netizens heavily criticized Ayesha Khan for liking the controversial post and appearing to support it. One user on X wrote, 'They will never choose nation above their faith," while another urged Ravi Dubey to 'remove" her from the show Dil Ko Rafu Karr Lei. Several users also tagged the Mumbai Police, calling for action to be taken against her.
Ayesha Khan liked a post where it is stated that…."As an Endian, you are not welcome in Kashmir." pic.twitter.com/uXkoQWEhE6 — Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) April 26, 2025
As of now, Ayesha Khan has not issued any statement addressing the criticism.
On April 22, India saw a brutal terror attack as 26 people were killed and several others injured when gunmen opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam. This incident is one of the most tragic attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The terror strike in Pahalgam unfolded around 2:30 pm on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and horror. Among the 26 victims were a young Navy officer, newly married just days earlier, and an Intelligence Bureau official who was gunned down in front of his wife. Officials confirmed that the casualties also included two foreign nationals, from the UAE and Nepal, as well as two local residents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia when the Pahalgam terror attack occurred, cut his trip short and returned to India early this morning.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister expressed deep anguish over the incident. 'I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir," he wrote. 'Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected."
He assured that justice will be delivered, stating firmly, 'Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared. Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will only grow stronger."
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