“Let’s keep them where they belong…”: Former general rejects Kapil Dev’s appeal on Pakistan ties

A fresh debate broke out after legendary cricketer Kapil Dev advocated for moving forward following the heated exchanges between India and Pakistan during the recent Asia Cup. The controversy began when the Indian team declined to accept the winner’s trophy and medals from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Pakistan Cricket Board chief. After their emphatic five-wicket victory in the final on September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Indian squad withheld handshakes and refrained from any ceremonial gestures with Naqvi, signaling deeper diplomatic and emotional strains between the two nations.

Kapil Dev urges restraint but draws flak

Dev, speaking to India Today, expressed that India’s stance during the presentations was justified, but cautioned against prolonging the episode. “Shaking hands is not a big thing,” he remarked, adding that players had already delivered their message by refusing the trophy from Naqvi. In his view, the matter should not be stretched further, suggesting, “Let the government do that job. Let the politician do that job. Our job was to make an impact or make a dent, which I think the Indian team did… But now one has to move on.” Dev emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and advocated that dialogue remains the only viable path forward for neighboring nations.

While he acknowledged the discomfort players may feel given the circumstances, he insisted that, “as a sportsman, you move on,” hinting that cricket cannot be the battleground for broader political resentments.

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Shaking hands is not a big thing. It’s a new system that has come out…The only way forward is to have a dialogue: @therealkapildev to @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/rXCthBkdA9

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) September 29, 2025

Also READ: Tilak Varma declines to label India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph against Pakistan as ‘Operation Tilak’

Former army general’s stern rebuttal offers a contrasting perspective

General KJS Dhillon, a highly respected retired officer of the Indian Army, publicly disagreed with Dev’s viewpoint, sparking a larger discussion on how India should navigate its ties with Pakistan. In a strong statement issued through social media, General Dhillon wrote, “Absolutely disagree with Kapil Dev with utmost & due respect. Let us not take this neighbour & big brother thing too far with utter disregard for the ground realities.”

The former army leader invoked decades of cross-border tensions, highlighting continuing threats to Indian civilians and the armed forces from what he called “a terrorist state.” He asserted, “Let’s keep them where they belong & deserve – down there. Period.”

General Dhillon’s remarks tap into ongoing anxieties and hardline opinions shaped by long-standing security concerns, frequent border skirmishes, and acts of terror attributed to elements operating from Pakistan. His rejection of any normalization until these issues are addressed resonates with many who prioritize national security over diplomatic outreach through sport or culture. This sharp difference in opinion illustrates the complex web of sentiment that underpins India-Pakistan relations—which often spill into cricket, adding further stakes to every on-field encounter.

Absolutely disagree with @therealkapildev with utmost & due respect

Let us not take this neighbour & big brother thing too far with utter disregard for the ground realities.
And the ground reality is that this neighbour is a terrorist state & his terrorists are killing our… https://t.co/FzWehllpKW

— KJS DHILLON🇮🇳 (@TinyDhillon) September 30, 2025