'There is no way we can carry on with cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan', says Shabana Azmi condemning the Pulwama Terror Attack

The Arts Council in Karachi had invited veteran actor Shabana Azmi and her husband, screenwriter Javed Akhtar, for a conference to pay tributes to her father, eminent poet Kaifi Azmi. The pair who initially confirmed that they would be addressing the event in Karachi, which is set to be held on February 23 and 24, have, however, canceled their visit following the heinous terrorist attack on the CRPF in J&K's Pulwama.

The celebrity couple who seemed to be furious about the cowardly act of the Pakistani terrorist group vented their anger out on social media. After husband, Javed Akhtar announced their decision of not attending the literature fest in Karachi on Twitter, veteran actress Shabana Azmi penned a series of posts expressing 'pain' and 'grief' over the Pulwama Terror Attack. She said that for the first time in all these years she feel weakened in her belief that people to people contact can force the establishment to do the right thing and affirmed that they will need to call halt to cultural exchange.

In a Twitter post, she wrote, "I am filled with pain and grief and all else ..by the dastardly #Pulwama attack. For the 1st time in all these years, I feel weakened in my belief that people to people contact can force the Establishment to do the right thing. We will need to call halt to cultural exchange"

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READ: Javed Akhtar And Shabana Azmi Cancel Appearance At Karachi Lit-fest Following Pulwama Terror Attack

In the wake of the recent attack, she further stated that there is no way they can carry on with cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan.

Extending condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers, she wrote, "#Pulwama attack There is no way we can carry on with cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan even as our martyrs are laying down their lives for us. I stand in solidarity with the grieving families."

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However, the veteran actress further stated that there is a difference between the 'Pakistani Establishment and the 'people of Pakistan'.

Continuing the Tweet thread she wrote, " But let's not lose sight of the fact that there is a difference between the Pakistani Establishment and the people of Pakistan n vice versa. On both sides of d border stand sisters n brothers divided by circumstances with which they had nothing 2 do. Read in the continuity of previous tweets."

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READ: 'My Heart Goes Out For The Jawans Of Our Beloved Country': Salman Khan Reacts To The Pulwama Terrorist Attack

As per PTI, 40 CRPF Jawans were martyred and many suffered severe injuries in the deadliest terror attack on security forces in a decade. As per CPRF sources, the 54 Battalion of CRPF was attacked with an IED blast. The attack was targeted at a CRPF convey of nearly 70 vehicles that were heading from Jammu towards Srinagar.

Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the terror attack in a text message to Kashmiri News Agency GNS.

Several Bollywood celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Priyanka Chopra, Anupam Kher, and Preity Zinta, among others also condemned the attack. They took to social media to convey their condolences to the families of our martyred solderers and demanded justice for them suggesting the need to hit back at the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and assured that people behind the attack will be punished. In fact, the attack was strongly condemned across the globe. The White House has asked Pakistan to immediately end being a "support" and "safe haven" to all terror groups as it condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack.