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Khwaja Asif backed Haris Rauf’s ‘6-0’ gesture during the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match, fueling controversy over Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian jets after Operation Sindoor.
Many netizens interpreted the controversial gesture as a reference to Pakistan’s baseless claim that it downed six Indian fighter jets (X)
Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has backed Pakistani cricketer Haris Rauf over his provocative ‘6-0’ gesture during the India Vs Pakistan Asia Cup match on Sunday.
In the Asia Cup 2025 match played between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 21, the Pakistani fast pacer was seen making a ‘6-0’ hand gesture as he was booed by spectators at the boundary during the high-octane match. In addition to the gesture, Rauf was also seen making provocative “crashing plane” signs toward Indian fans, further fueling the controversy.
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Many netizens interpreted the controversial gesture as a reference to Pakistan’s baseless claim that it downed six Indian fighter jets during the four-day scuffle following Operation Sindoor in May.
The Pakistani minister reshared a post on X by Ayab Ahmed, a columnist for an Islamabad daily, in which Ahmed praised Rauf’s gesture. In his reply, written in Urdu, Asif said, “Haris Rauf is treating them right. Keep it up. Cricket matches come and go… but 6-0 will not be forgotten by India until Judgment Day, and the world will remember it too.”
Meanwhile, India opener Abhishek Sharma slammed a 39-ball 74, studded with six boundaries and five maximums and shared a 105-run opening wicket stance with Shubman Gill as India surmounted a 172-run target with six wickets to spare.
Speaking on his batting approach, Sharma said it was his response to the needless belligerence of Pakistan players during the game.
“Today it was very simple, the way they (Pakistan players) were coming at us for no reason, I didn’t like it at all and this is the only way (his aggressive batting) I could give medicine to them,” Abhishek had said in the post-match presentation.
Pakistan’s Baseless Claim
Following India’s launch of retaliatory strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan attempted to play down the offensive by alleging it had shot down three Indian Rafale jets, along with one Su-30 and one MiG-29.
India has already denied that any of its fighter jets were destroyed during Operation Sindoor, which successfully demolished terror infrastructure in Pakistan. Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale jets, has also dismissed Pakistan’s claim as “factually incorrect”.
India’s Air Force chief, AP Singh, said in August that it was Pakistan that lost six military aircraft.
Air Chief Marshal Singh said five Pakistani fighter jets and a ‘large aircraft’, potentially a surveillance plane, were shot down. The latter was neutralised at a range of 300km and represented the “largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill”, he said at an event in Bengaluru.
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Islamabad, Pakistan
September 23, 2025, 20:06 IST
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