Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria strongly condemned the statement by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after the latter referred to the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack as “freedom fighters.”

Dar made the remark during a media briefing in Islamabad following India's diplomatic counter-offensive after the terror strike, that included the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and the cancellation of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals.

"Those who carried out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district on April 22 might be freedom fighters," Dar said before adding, "Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparians will be considered as an act of war."

"If Pakistan is attacked directly, a tit-for-tat reply will be given," he added.

Reacting sharply to Dar's statement, Kaneria minced no words and taking to X, wrote: ""When the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan calls terrorists 'freedom fighters,' it's not just a disgrace - it's an open admission of state-sponsored terrorism.”

The Pahalgam attack occurred on Tuesday when terrorists opened fire at a prime tourist location in south Kashmir's Pahalgam. At least 26 people succumbed to death, resulting in heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is the deadliest terrorist act in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.

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