Banning artistes gives victory to terrorists, says Junoon's Salman Ahmad

Junoon founder Salman Ahmad will soon release the band's silver jubilee album Junoon 25 and hopes he'd be able to tour India to promote the same.

Speaking to IANS, the Sufi-rocker said that stopping cultural exchanges between the two neighbouring nations is not the solution.

"Banning artistes, writers, actors and poets gives a victory to the terrorists and extremists who don't want people-to-people contact," he said.

"We live in an inter-connected world," added Salman. "Indian actor Om Puri, whose Pakistani film Actor In Law is doing record business in Pakistan, recently visited Pakistani cities and TV shows promoting the film. Indian artistes are embraced by Pakistanis. Similarly, Indian music companies, film producers and event organisers invite Pakistani artistes because it also makes good business."

Ahmad is looking forward to perform in India soon, and he isn't concerned about safety.

He recalled that when Junoon first visited India in 1998, people asked him the same question as a nuclear bomb test had been conducted by India that year.

Far from hatred or fear, he said that the band received "nothing, but just love" from Indian fans.