Legendary Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar and his veteran actress-wife Shabana Azmi were invited to attend poet Kaifi Azmi’s birth centenary celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan which is organized by Karachi Art Council but the two have now cancelled it following the Pulwama terror attack that killed around 40 CRPF personnel on Thursday. Akhtar took to Twitter to announce this along with a few lines he quoted from Kaifi Azmi's poem, "Kranchi art council had invited. Shabana and me for a two day lit conference about Kaifi Azmi and his poetry . We have cancelled that . In 1965 during the indo Pak war Kaifi saheb had written a poem . “ AUR PHIR KRISHAN NE ARJUN SE KAHA"


Responding to one of the comments on his tweet, Akhtar wrote, "Dont get upset with me. talk to those who are running your country , who are protecting and nurturing terrorists like Masood Azhar . Those who had sent Qasab to my city . If you are getting a terrible reputation they are responsible no one else ."


Expressing her anguish, Shabana Azmi tweeted, "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."

She wrote announcing the cancellation of their Pak visit - " n I were invited for a 2 day event celebrating Azmi centenary. I appreciate that our hosts Arts Council have mutually agreed with us to cancel the event at the nth hr in view of the dastardly Pulwama Massacre."

She further 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.”

" and I have cancelled Karachi Arts Councils celebration of my father Kaifi Azmi’s centenary and Rekhta’s 3 day celebration in Dubai which included a show of our play Kaifi aur Main by IPTA . All Indians stand united as one ."

However, she added, “But lets not lose sight of d fact dat there is a difference between d Pakistani Establishment n d 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 continuity of previous tweets”

Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi had taken to social media on Thursday along with other Bollywood celebrities to condemn the ghastly attack and offer condolences to the families of the dead.

Pulwama terror attack: From Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra to Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma Bollywood condemns ‘cowardly’ terror attack!

Akhtar wrote on Twitter: "I have a special relation with CRPF. I have written Their anthem Before putting the pen to paper I met a number of CRPF officers n what ever I learned my respect admiration and love for these braves increased by many a fold Today I share the grief of the dear ones of the martyrs"


Shabana's tweet read - "Will there be no let to these heinous attacks?These mindless killings.this utter disregard for human lives?Extremely shocking news coming from Pulwama.I strongly condemn the worst terror attack on CRPF convoy and stand united with the grieving families"


The attack took place around 3.15 p.m. on Thursday when a 'Fidayeen' bomber belonging to the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terror outfit rammed an explosive-laden SUV into a bus carrying CRPF troopers in Lethpora area of Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, officials said.