MUMBAI MIRROR (February 16, 2019)

In the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi have decided not to attend an event in Pakistan. Akhtar shared on Twitter, “Karachi Art Council had invited Shabana and me for a two-day literature conference about Kaifi Azmi and his poetry. We’ve cancelled that.”

A suicide bomber on Thursday rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus in Pulwama. The death toll in the suicide bombing rose to 49 on Friday.

Shabana, who was in the hospital recovering from swine flu, said that she is “filled with pain and grief”. “I feel weakened in my belief that people to people contact can force the establishment to do the right thing. We will need to call halt to cultural exchange. There is no way we can carry on with cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan even as our martyrs are laying down their lives for us. I stand in solidarity with the grieving families.”

On the Karachi event, Shabana said, “I appreciate that our hosts have mutually agreed to cancel the event at the nth hour in wake of the attack.” Kangana Ranaut, who was planning a success party for her last release, Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi, called off the celebrations in the wake of the attack.

Shah Rukh Khan said, “Heartfelt condolences to the families of our valiant jawans. May the souls of our countrymen who laid their lives down for us rest in peace.” Salman Khan added, “My heart goes out for the jawans of our beloved country and their families who lost their lives as martyrs to save our families...” Aamir Khan shared, “I am heartbroken to read about the terrorist attack on our CRPF jawans in Pulwama. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the jawans who have lost their lives.”