As the US concluded its troop withdrawal from a Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Shahid Afridi’s atrocious remarks on Taliban coming with a “positive frame of mind” has sparked row. The former Pakistan cricket captain’s comments on the militant organization and its “positive” attitude triggered outrage with people calling him out on his stance on the issue.

Contents hide
1. Details
2. Shahid Afridi Plays an Inning for Taliban
3. “Things Are Moving Towards Positive Place”
4. Afridi on Taliban’s “Positive” Approach Towards Women
5. “To My Understanding, Taliban Loves Cricket”
6. How Internet Reacted to Afridi’s Remarks
7. Afghan Cricketer Rashid Khan Shows Ground Reality
8. Taliban Bans Co-Education In Afghanistan

Details

The debate around the Taliban is probably the most convoluted and contentious debates in the history of modern civilization. It’s an issue that involves decades worth of political grandstanding, complex reasons for how events transpired, with multiple countries involved. However, one thing has always been agreed on – the Taliban have wreaked havoc on Afghanistan citizens, especially its women.

After US President Joe Biden ordered a complete US troop pull-out from the war-torn country, Islamic militant organization Taliban started to make rapid gains in the country. Soon, Afghanistan capital Kabul too fell and images of thousands of desperate Afghani citizens trying to flee the country surfaced.

The desperation of women amid all this was all the more palpable. With its hardline orthodox principals, Taliban is looked by Afghanistan women as something that would again hamper women’s rights.

Also Read: From IT Minister to Pizza Delivery – New Life of Afghan Minister Syed Ahmad Sadat Amid Taliban Crisis

Shahid Afridi Plays an Inning for Taliban

Former Pakistan captain, and once a formidable batsman against the most lethal bowlers Shahid Afridi, however thinks that the Taliban has come with a “positive attitude” and further claimed that the organization “loves cricket”.

“Things Are Moving Towards Positive Place”

Shahid Afridi’s remarks came when he was having a chat with the media in Karachi about PSL (Pakistan Super League). Apparently, Afridi was asked by media about the recent situation in Afghanistan. Claiming that the militant organization came with a “positive frame of mind’ Afridi said, “No doubt Taliban have come now. And they have come with a very positive frame of mind. It was not evident before, but now it seems that by God’s grace, things are moving towards a very positive place.”

Also Read: Afghanistan: Last US Troops Leave Kabul after 2 Decades of War, Taliban Celebrates with Gunfire

Afridi on Taliban’s “Positive” Approach Towards Women

As women in Afghanistan put their lives at risk to continue protesting against the Taliban rule, the Pakistani cricketer cited, “Allowing women to work in politics or other jobs,” as the positive place Taliban is taking Afghanistan towards.

“To My Understanding, Taliban Loves Cricket”

As countries try finding a safe haven for its citizens stuck in Afghanistan, and a way to safely evacuate them, Afridi in the interview spoke about how Taliban “loves cricket”. “They support cricket. There could’ve been a cricket series but couldn’t happen due to the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka. But to my understanding, Taliban loves cricket.”

Also Read: Kabul Airport Blast: Toll Rises to 103, After Taliban, ISIS-K Emerges as New Threat

How Internet Reacted to Afridi’s Remarks

Unsurprisingly his remarks on Taliban not only went viral, but also evoked harsh criticism on social media.

Afghan Cricketer Rashid Khan Shows Ground Reality

As Afridi batted for the Taliban, the ground reality at Afghanistan is, as one would assume, stark different. Prior to the militant organization’s complete control over the war-torn country, Rashid Khan, one of the most talented Afghanistan cricketers, who also plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL, gave vivid illustrations of the chaos in his country.

Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote, “Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos, thousand of innocent people, including children & women, get martyred everyday, houses & properties being destructed. Thousand families displaced.. Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans & destroying Afghanistan. We want peace.”

In another tweet, Khan wrote, ” Kabul is bleeding again. STOP KILLING AFGHAN PLEASE.”

Taliban Bans Co-Education In Afghanistan

Shahid Afridi in his interview claimed that the Taliban is going to support women in politics and profession. However, the militant organization recently announced a complete ban on co-education in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s newly appointed Higher Education Minister, Shaikh Abdulbaqi Haqqani, claimed that the new education law in the country will be according to the Sharia Law. Although the move may not seem as drastic, it should be noted that by directly curbing co-education, women who will be wanting to pursue higher education will not get the chance to do so as major universities in Afghanistan don’t have enough resources to conduct multiple classes.