Indian Athletes Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack; Calls Grow to Sever Sporting Ties with Pakistan

India's sporting community has been shocked and indignant at the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed at least 26 civilians and injured many others.

The attack, linked to The Resistance Front (TRF)—an outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—has generated robust reactions from sportsmen from all walks, with most urging a complete slash in sporting ties with Pakistan.

Tributes were paid by cricket heroes Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Tendulkar stood with the families of the victims, writing, "India and the world stand united with them at this dark hour." Kohli followed up, writing, "Praying for peace and strength… and justice to be served for their cruel act."

Other cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Anil Kumble, and Ravi Shastri expressed similar sentiments, calling for peace and justice and condemning the violence.

Former cricketer Shreevats Goswami went one step further, calling for a total suspension of all sporting contacts with Pakistan. "Not now. Not ever," he tweeted, condemning people who think that "sport must transcend politics."

Indian national team head coach and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir vowed that "those responsible will pay." Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Parthiv Patel, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan also shared tearful tributes, with Raina referring to the attack as a "cowardly act by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists."

The Olympic community also weighed in. Bronze medal-winning boxer and BJP member Vijender Singh called for strong action, stating that India's military will act forcefully. Olympic champions Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra, PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Nikhat Zareen, and PR Sreejesh lamented and expressed solidarity.

This bloodshed once again… breaks something in you," penned Goswami, who was just in Pahalgam. Sindhu added, "No cause can ever justify such violence. You are not alone."

The attack in Pahalgam is being described as the worst terror attack in Kashmir after the one in Pulwama in 2019, and the unified rage of India's sporting fraternity only mirrors the nation's collective anguish and swelling demands for accountability and justice.