Indian popular poet and author Javed Akhtar recently spotted at ‘ABP India Summit 2023’ and during interview he talked about his visit to Pakistan.

He also discussed about his controversial remarks at the 7th Faiz Festival he attended in Lahore last month.

The host asked him a question, “You visited Lahore recently how was Lahore?

“It was very very nice. I attended 7th Faiz Festival. Previously I went to Pakistan in 2018 for the same festival. Faiz Ahmad Faiz was the popular Urdu poet of the sub-continent, in India or in Pakistan.

“I got great reception, met wonderful people and the people were asking really friendly and warm questions and it was going pretty well until somebody highlighted how Indians only think of Pakistanis as terrorists and don't treat them well”, said Akhtar.

Further he claimed, “There was little space for me to move away without answering her so I answered her in a proper and in most respectful way.

“In the most polite manner I reminded her [the attendee] of all her public figures that received great hospitality from us”.

“It became a huge deal, it was almost embarrassing for me. When I came back to India from Pakistan, I felt as if I had won the third world war. I stopped picking up calls due to the reactions in the media. I mean, what was so wrong with what I said anyways? It was expected of me to say this much at least. Should I have just stayed quiet?”, he added.

Concluding the conversation he said that there were many people in Pakistan who wants to maintain good relationship with Indians as he received a warm welcome from young generation and students.

“So its not fair to judge everyone with the same point of view”, he concluded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmgIMR4yiws