Shahid Afridi’s cousin was commander of terror organisation, tried to attack Kashmir in 2003?

In the wake of a tragic attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has publicly accused India of attributing the incident to Pakistan without conducting a thorough investigation. This assertion has reignited discussions about Afridi's familial and personal connections to Pakistan's military and intelligence establishments.

Notably, Afridi's cousin, Shaquib Afridi, was identified as a commander of the militant group Harkat-ul-Ansar. In September 2003, Shaquib was killed by Indian security forces in Anantnag, Kashmir. 

The Border Security Force (BSF) confirmed his identity through documents recovered during the operation, and it was reported that Shaquib had been active in the region for approximately two years prior to his death, as per a report in India Today.

Shahid Afridi's cousin Shaquib Afridi was commander of terror organisation Harkat ul Ansar.

He tried to attack Kashmir but was sent to hell by Indian Army in 2003.

Shahid himself has close links to Pakistan Army & ISI (many attended his daughter & Shaheen Afridi's wedding) pic.twitter.com/OfhEP8e0fR

— Rainbow Salt (@Rainbowsalt91) April 29, 2025

Further reports claimed that Afridi has personal connection in Pakistan's defence circles and ISI. His daughter Ansha Afridi married Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in February 2023. The wedding ceremony in Karachi was attended by prominent figures, including former director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Asim Saleem Bajwa and other Pakistan cricket team members.

Why hasn’t India banned YouTube Channel of this lowlife thug and Pakistan Army’s salve Shahid Afridi? He is known to receive money from Pakistan Army to do their propaganda and defend Islamist terrorist against civilians. pic.twitter.com/57q03da0Og

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 28, 2025

Afridi's recent comments come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of orchestrating the Kashmir attack while Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has called for an international investigation, asserting that India is exploiting the incident for domestic political purposes without concrete evidence.

Given Afridi's familial ties to militant activities and his associations with Pakistan's military elite, his statements on the Kashmir incident are viewed by some as reflective of broader geopolitical narratives.