Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, popularly referred to as “Rawalpindi Express” has dropped the baby, so to speak the veneer of his neutrality when it comes to India-Pak diplomatic relations.
Akhtar has often won hearts across the border in India while commentating or posting messages on twitter, including his support for mistreatment to Pakistan’s Hindu cricketer Danish Kaneria. But a video of it has surfaced where he is seen telling the interviewer from Samaa TV that first Kashmir would be conquered and then Rest of India, as part of Ghazwa-e-Hind.
“It is written in our scriptures that Ghazwa e Hind will take place. The river in Attock will be coloured red twice with blood. Forces from Afghanistan will reach till Attock. Then after that forces will rise from Shamal Mashriq, different contingents will arrive from Uzbekistan etc…this refers to Khorasan, a historical region which extended till Lahore. Later those forces will conquer Kashmir, and then, inshallah, they will march onwards (to the rest of India).”
“Ghazwa e Hind is mentioned in our sacred books. We will first capture Kashmir and then invade India from all sides for Ghazwa e Hind”
– Shoaib Akhtar (descendant of a Hindu Gujjar)
After all cricket & art have no boundaries. After Ghazwa e Hind, India will have no boundaries! pic.twitter.com/sRlYml6xow
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) December 18, 2020
Shamal Mashriq is an Urdu reference for the geographical region which is just north of the Arabian peninsula.
Ghazwa-e-Hind implies holy raid of India and the term has been used by terrorists from Pakistan for decades. The concept has roots from several Hadiths in Islamic literature. The doctrine foresees a fierce battle between Hindus and Muslims before the latter win decisive victory over Hindu India.
The prediction believes that the battle would strt from modern day Syria and forces would march towards India, carrying black flags, emerging from Khorasan and conquering and converting India into an Islamic state.
The doctrine is drummed and believed by many Pakistanis who believe their country has come into existence only to conquer Pakistan and fulfil the prophecy of Ghazwa-e-Hind. That the land of “non-believers” must be claimed—and this doctrine helps brainwash the impressionable youth.
