Srinagar, April 25, 2025 — Mahira Khan, the Pakistani actress known for her role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the Bollywood hit Raees, joined a chorus of celebrities denouncing a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, only to quietly pull her statement from social media hours later. The move has sparked chatter, but the facts remain sparse and stark.
On April 24, armed terrorists struck a bustling tourist spot in Pahalgam, a picturesque valley town in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people, including locals and visitors. The attack, which unfolded in the evening, sent shockwaves through the region, prompting swift condemnation from Indian authorities and public figures across borders. Among them were Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir, who posted heartfelt messages of grief and solidarity on Instagram Stories.
Khan, 38, followed suit. On Thursday, she shared a brief post on her Instagram Stories, calling the attack “an act of mere cowardice.” Her words echoed the sentiments of her peers, mourning the loss of life and decrying the violence that shattered the scenic retreat. By Friday morning, however, the post was gone. No explanation surfaced from Khan or her team. Her social media accounts, typically a mix of film promos and personal snapshots, carried no trace of the statement.
The deletion didn’t go unnoticed. Indian news outlets, quick to cover the attack’s fallout, reported Khan’s post and its abrupt disappearance, though none could confirm why she removed it. Her colleagues’ posts remained online, with Fawad Khan expressing “thoughts and prayers” for the victims and Aamir labeling the tragedy a “tragedy for all of us.” Khan, who has a sizable fan base in India despite a limited Bollywood footprint, has stayed silent since.
The Pahalgam attack marks another grim chapter in Kashmir’s volatile history. Indian security forces have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, with no group officially claiming responsibility as of Friday. The region, a flashpoint for decades, sees regular clashes, but the scale of this assault—targeting a civilian hub—has drawn unusually broad attention.
Khan’s brief foray into the discourse underscores the tightrope public figures walk when addressing cross-border tensions. Her work in India, particularly Raees in 2017, made her a household name, but Pakistani actors face scrutiny in both nations amid political strains. Whether her deleted post signals caution or something else entirely remains unclear. She hasn’t commented publicly, and her representatives didn’t respond to inquiries.
For now, the focus stays on Pahalgam, where families grieve and authorities brace for answers. Khan’s fleeting statement, like the attack itself, leaves more questions than closure.