While Islamabad braces for possible diplomatic and military fallout, dissent within Pakistan's religious and social fabric is becoming increasingly visible.
'Would you support Pak if it fights India?' asks Islamabad cleric, gets no reply
Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a controversial cleric of Islamabad's Lal Masjid, witnessed no people raising their hands when he asked the people whether they would support Pakistan in the event of a war with India.
Abdul Aziz Ghazi slams Pak establishment, says system worse than India
Remarks came amid tensions with India over Pahalgam terror attack
Ghazi's comments signified growing dissent within Pak against its establishment
In a stark and symbolic moment that has gone viral, Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, a controversial cleric of Islamabad's Lal Masjid, faced an unexpected silence when he asked his audience whether they would stand with Pakistan in the event of a war with India. Not a single hand was raised.
This incident came nearly within days after the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and has since pushed India-Pakistan tensions to a new high.
Addressing students and followers at Lal Masjid - a site long associated with extremism and state confrontation - Ghazi said, "I have a question for you. Tell me, if Pakistan fights against India, how many of you would support Pakistan and fight for it?" (No hands are raised)
"This means there is enough understanding," he continued.
Ghazi went further to criticise the Pakistani establishment, saying,
"Today, Pakistan has a system of disbelief - a cruel, useless system. It is worse than India."
The cleric also cited atrocities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing the Pakistani state of bombing its own people.
"What happened in Balochistan, what they did in Pakistan and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - these are atrocities. When the people were ready, the state bombed its own citizens."
The internal dissent, paired with recent nuclear posturing and panic-driven diplomacy in Islamabad, paints a picture of a nation increasingly unsure of its footing both at home and on the international stage.
The video, recorded at Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid on May 2, has sparked outrage on Pakistani social media.
Experts view the moment as a reflection of growing disillusionment inside Pakistan, not just with its civil-military leadership, but with its ideological stance on India.
When clerics of Lal Masjid - a place once synonymous with radical calls - no longer find support for war against India, it's a sign of deeper fractures within Pakistan.
According to Ajay Bisaria, former Indian envoy who served in Pakistan, - "It could be a ground strike like Uri, air strike by Balakot (by India).... it could be a sea strike this time and to make a difference, it could be all of the above. It could be a blend of that".
"It also could be nothing .... for example Operation Parakram was about making the adversary sweat it out and think that it could happen any time.... All these options are on the table... all can be used but the objective should be to make sure that the behaviour (of Pakistan) changes and also that it sees there is a huge cost for repeating this kind of behavior in the future".
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