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Anwar Maqsood hopes Modi realises he is not doing right by Muslims of India or Pakistan

Anwar Maqsood hopes Modi realises he is not doing right by Muslims of India or Pakistan

The satirist spoke about escalating tensions at a press conference organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi.
09 May, 2025

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, celebrated writer and satirist Anwar Maqsood has called for reflection and restraint, warning of the human cost of war and urging leaders to seek peace over politics.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on Thursday, Maqsood said that while war rhetoric is easy to stoke, the consequences of conflict are deeply tragic. “Starting a war is easy, anything small can start a war. But ending it is difficult,” he cautioned, adding that even military victories come with little joy when innocent lives, especially those of children, are lost.

“I am more upset about the dead civilians than I am happy about the five Indian jets we brought down. Regret over innocent lives must always outweigh the celebration of military victories,” he reflected.

On Wednesday night, India attacked several sites in Pakistan as part of its ‘Operation Sindoor’. Thirty-one Pakistani civilians have been killed and another 57 injured. In retaliation, Pakistan’s military downed five Indian jets, and destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters and check posts along the Line of Control. The DG ISPR said 25 Indian drones had been downed since night between May 7 and 8. On Friday, state media said Pakistan has taken down a total of 77 Indian drones so far.

“In difficult times, we understand the importance of the army,” he said, acknowledging the public’s solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces. “Today, 250 million people have become soldiers. I don’t have a weapon, but I have the power of the pen.”

Maqsood emphasised that love for one’s homeland transcends geography. “I respect my flag the same way Indians respect theirs. Countries are not identified by population or area. For me, Pakistan is as big as India is for an Indian.”

About the Indian media, which has been peddling misinformation and warmongering, he remarked, “India’s media can never change.”

He expressed hope that the recent escalation might serve as a wake-up call for Indian leadership. “Modi wins with votes, but maybe after this, he will come to realise that he is not doing right by Muslims, the Muslims of our country or his.”

Despite the prevailing tensions, Maqsood expressed a longing for progress and unity in the region. “Times have changed. No one wants war. We all want our country to move forward,” he said. “We should follow the path our government and our army have chosen.”

The press conference, attended by a wide array of intellectuals, poets and cultural figures, was held to protest against India’s aggressive posturing and rising war rhetoric.

Comments

Yerra Choudary May 09, 2025 06:49pm
intellectual self deception. The reality is different
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Tejaswi May 09, 2025 07:17pm
Sir, we indians loves you and agrees almost everything you said but I will beg to defer from you on just one point. This is not about muslims or Islam. Its about terrorism. Period. We are tired of the apologetic tendency of the pakistani government about the terrorists openly operating inside Pakistan. For the last 30-40 years Pakistani gov did nothing about these terrorists and more or less nurture them and used against us Indians. What you will do sir if put in the same situation?
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Tariq Hanif May 09, 2025 07:22pm
Is it a joke? Modi political survival is on this, there is no need to hope anything here, the only thing we need is prep. Also merit in everything will make sure we have the right people with right skills to face an enemy like Bharat.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 09, 2025 07:33pm
In this case, the celebrated writer, author, satirist and TV anchor Anwar Maqsood is 100 percent right.
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Ahmed May 09, 2025 07:48pm
Very correct statement.
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Venkataraman Iyer May 09, 2025 08:14pm
Briefing better than Defence Minister Khwaja Asif
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JohnDoe May 09, 2025 08:31pm
It is always all about Muslims!!!
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Jono May 09, 2025 08:59pm
If Anwar Massood thinks Mr. Modi is not doing the right thing by the Indian Muslims, he should take them all to Pakistan.
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R Sultan May 09, 2025 09:27pm
Why bring in Muslim of this country or that? The issue is terrorism claimed by India done deliberately to create a chasm between hindus and Muslims? It is for us to negate this being our state policy.
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Deepak Sareen May 09, 2025 10:36pm
Maqsood Saheb it is simply the other side of deeply flawed two nation theory that your Kayad foisted on all of us.
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Iqbal Ahmad Khan May 09, 2025 11:21pm
The best way to have peace is to prepare for war. Now that we have demonstrated that aggression does not pay, India will seriously consider living in peace and amity with neighbour Pakistan and engaging in negotiations to resolve the core dispute of Kashmir.
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Pir Raza Shah May 10, 2025 12:35am
After the 2nd World War staunch enemies European countries are friends now call themselves European Union but we Asians never learn from others and history are still fighting which is very unfortunate.
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Tehseena May 10, 2025 03:42am
Pretty naive of anwar Maqsood to say maybe modi will realise. We are talking about the butcher of Gujrat. He’s not going to change his colors!!
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Javed Iqbal May 10, 2025 04:46am
I have always respected Anwar Maqsood. His is truly an intellectual. But this message to Modi and India is mis timed. This is no time for peacenicks.
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Laila May 10, 2025 06:46am
Unfortunately you can not appeal to somebody who doesn't care. He is doing this deliberately.
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Imran Siddique Malik May 10, 2025 08:09am
Finally few words from the hopeless man which meant for betterment of country.
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VG May 10, 2025 12:02pm
When ever someone talks about only his religion, his words have very little meaning.
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M. Saeed May 10, 2025 05:53pm
Maqsood says " “Starting a war is easy, anything small can start a war. But ending it is difficult,” , but, this time, war has ended on 3rd day, without physically crossing each others' borders!
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mk May 10, 2025 11:33pm
Indian media is an extension of there movie industry.You know there's a movie coming Operation Sondhoor..And Pakistan is obliterated in it.
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mk May 10, 2025 11:34pm
Indian media is younger sister of there movie industry.
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Laila May 11, 2025 11:29am
@Jono What if Indian Muslims don't want to come here? Did you bother to ask them? Pakistan has nothing to offers it's own people let alone 200 million Indian Muslims.
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