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Fawad Khan calls for unity in long-awaited statement on India-Pak relations

Fawad Khan calls for unity in long-awaited statement on India-Pak relations

"I thank all my fans and fellow artists for their belief in love and understanding to unite a divisive world," he said
07 Oct, 2016

In the midst of what has been a trying week for Pakistani and Indian actors who have worked on cross-border projects, Fawad Khan has finally released a statement calling for India-Pak unity.

In a Facebook post published today, the actor made clear that he had not traveled to India in the recent past, saying:

"I've been in Lahore since July as my wife and I had been expecting our second child. I've received numerous requests from the media and from well wishers worldwide asking me for my thoughts on the sad incidents that took place in the past few weeks. As a father of two little children, I pray and wish like many others that together we can build and live in a more peaceful world. I believe we owe it to our children who will shape our tomorrow."

He continued:

"This is the first time I have spoken on the matter. Please disregard any other words attributed to me during this time because I have not said them. I thank all my fans and fellow artists from Pakistan, India and people in general all over the world who have shown continued support for their belief in love and understanding to unite a divisive world."

Following the Uri incident and deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, one of the biggest hits was felt by Pakistani and Indian actors.

The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association's (IMMP) banned Pakistani talent from working in India, which invited criticism not only from Pakistan but within India too. Pakistani cinemas responding by refusing to air Indian movies locally.

There has been much speculation about the fate of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, the Indian movie that Fawad Khan is set to feature in. Only today, Indian newspapers reported that Fawad Khan will not be promoting the film in India.

Comments

Sri Oct 07, 2016 06:54pm
Mature guy!
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GA Oct 07, 2016 07:14pm
This was bound to happen sooner or later. But the fact is Indians have seen the good side of Pakistan through our artists and soaps and Pakistanis have seen the good side of India through their overwhelming support of our artists. But still the good people cannot let extremists amongst us win. We owe it to the children..
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Inder from kashmir Oct 07, 2016 07:45pm
Your are an actor , we respect you. Just try to, whatever way you may, for India Pak peace. You will be a real and bigger actor.
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Fahad Oct 07, 2016 08:03pm
Hi Fawad, Well said, but please do pray for our brothers in Indian Administered Kashmir, that their kids live in peace as well Thanks, Fahad from Australia
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Adeel Oct 07, 2016 08:12pm
I am from Pakistan and heart goes out to the families who lost their family members in URI as well as in Kashmir where more than 100 families lost their loved ones and any thing which is uncalled for is an act of terror . What Indian army doing in Kashmir or what these unclassed person (freedom fighter fro Kashmir's or terrorist in your definition) please give peace a chance as the dividend of peace are humongous
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master Oct 07, 2016 08:14pm
You have got a great opportunity now to work in only pakistani films. I am sure this is a better opportunity than in bollywood.
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VAIBHAV Oct 07, 2016 08:16pm
A Thorough Gentleman , A Great Human Being and A Wonderful Actor.... We Salute U Fawad.... (Tensions and reactions will Happen But Humanity Must be Maintained everywhere..)
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Delhi Oct 07, 2016 08:19pm
mature and sensible comments without hurting any one .wish he could hv condemned uri attack. see you soon FAWAD.
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Arvind Oct 07, 2016 08:41pm
These Pakistani actors are given role in Indian cinema or TV, not because they are very great. It is for the commercial reasons. To make the cinema or serial popular in Pakistan and also in India, where millions of Indian Muslims , are blind fans of anything that is Pakistani.
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Jaikar Rao Oct 07, 2016 09:57pm
Very good statement from fawad Khan. May saner heads prevail in both countries .
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Kumar Oct 07, 2016 10:06pm
Of course he will say that. After all his career in India rests on it.
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WaheedNoor Oct 07, 2016 11:03pm
How are Indian actors affected? They do not act in Pakistani films. The theaters in Pakistan survive on screening Indian films whether we like it or not. If they continue to ban screening of Indian films we may not have that many theaters left in Pakistan. India on the other hand is not affected as it has probably has more theaters in Bombay alone than in our entire country.
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Adil Ikram Oct 08, 2016 12:00am
well said fawad :) Adil Ikram
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Optimistic Pakistani Oct 08, 2016 12:10am
@Fahad i think whatevee he has said is because of the pressure of the indian media. His words are not going to change anything its the same as of ours. Did we in pakistan asked om puri or naseeruddin shah anything about kashmir issue or pak india tension as they asked atif aslam. we know they cant do anything or their words wont solve the issue. This shows their small mindedness and immaturity. Pakistan is not generating heavy revenues as their are few pakistani artist working so its not we are dependent on them. Whether they work in india or not does not affect us in the decimals but we wish them best of luck wherever they are.
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joe Oct 08, 2016 12:31am
How about condemning the terrorist attack in Uri. You have not said a word.
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Sid Oct 08, 2016 04:55am
Forget India now,work in pakistanis film that is good for you.
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Farouq Omaro Oct 08, 2016 05:01am
Wise words from an artist. If only artists had their way perhaps there would be more peace. The late Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan once said "If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music this country would never have been partitioned."
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Karan-Mumbai Oct 08, 2016 09:25am
You have still not condemned the Uri attacks like u condemned the Paris and Brussels attack.
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Vishal Oct 08, 2016 09:31am
Of course he would. Yes he's nice and all Indians like him, but trust me noone would really notice if he left. The only reason he's there is because he comes a few crores cheaper and he ensures a few crores more from the Pakistan market.
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D.K. PAMNANI Oct 08, 2016 09:49am
Please condemn the terrorist activity anywhere in the world. Be it India or Pakistan or elsewhere.
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Nitin Oct 08, 2016 10:17am
Not serious, generic comment, no mention of uri , please condem terrorism against india, no one is forcing you to condem pakistan.
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JS Oct 08, 2016 10:29am
Well- said Fawad. We appreciate your sensitivity and sensibility, and love you for who you are and very proud of you. Stay strong and blessed!
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Boudh Oct 08, 2016 10:37am
Still didn't condemn Uri.
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Owais Oct 08, 2016 11:00am
Two questions: Why are so many indians commenting on this pakistani news portal? Might want to focus cleaning up your own house hold first. Why is a Palistani actor expected to aplogise and condemn the Uri attack? Did Akhay Kumar apologise or condemn the mass shooting of students at a college in US by a "mentally ill" gunman? Fawad Khan made such a sensible statement, but yet some self centered people cant help but give themselves way too much importance. Terrorism has no boundaries, ethnicity or religion...
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condemn the attacks Oct 08, 2016 11:19am
What India is satisfied with is nothing less than condemnation by Fawad Khan.
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JS Oct 08, 2016 11:51am
@Vishal Come on Vishal. Like a sensible person, go beyond crores and acknowledge Fawad's high potential as an actor. If his credibility was at stake in Bollywood, he would not be even considered by the film makers, and so much admired for his acting prowess. I speak the same for so many Superb Indian actors so much admired and loved for their acting including Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Bilraj Sami, Narjis, my favorite Shashi Kapoor, Nanda, Sunil Dutt, the Ramleela actor and Deepika. Let's be strong within to make rational comments. Stay blessed! Good wishes from a Pakistani.
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Suresh Oct 08, 2016 11:53am
Which incident he is talking about as "sad" and what did "say" at all about the sad incident? Wishing for a peaceful world is nothing but expecting a box office hit since only a peaceful world can provide it. He did not denounce anything, he did not offer condolences to anybody. He just spoke about his wish to make more money out of Bollywood movies in future in a peaceful world.
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PRASANNA Oct 08, 2016 12:32pm
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER..RESPECT
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Shdhsn Oct 08, 2016 03:56pm
Indian media and fundamentalists should stop forcing others to condemn URI attack. All attacks where innocent people get killed should be condemned. Why Indian actors are not condemning killing of so many innocent kashmiris in IOK? Why international media is not allowed to go there and show how innocent people are being tortured and women are being raped? Peace should prevail... the biggest culprit is Afghanistan which was and is still safe haven for terrorists and is acting like an innocent kid.
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J. Syed Oct 09, 2016 06:02am
It's purely money business.These artist don't know what nationalism is. They are more worried about the Bucks. They should show their patriotism to Pakistan first and talk about unity after that.
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Mnshamz Oct 09, 2016 11:49am
Please all Indian brotherso and sisters. I request you to stop repeating the chant of "condemn uri attack" as fawad is not a politician. He has given a balanced statement without indulging in politics. Let indian and pakistani media and government play the game of politics. Those who are educated can see through the facade government and media are creating on both sides of the border. The rest will simply exhibit herd mentality.
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TRK Oct 10, 2016 10:52am
@Karan-Mumbai every life is important indian soldiers or pakistani or a tenager from kashmir and a freedom fighter for their land. Who did Uri has not been established. Done by kashmiri mujahideen or inside job or a staged actioned like the surgical strike why should someone condemn it. Paris, peshwar or lahore attack all were different then Uri. He did condemned any killing so that should be it.
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