Talha Anjum, a rapper based in Pakistan, was caught on camera wearing the Indian flag on his shoulders during a concert in Kathmandu. The video became viral within a very short period.
Within minutes, phones lit up, clips went viral, and social media timelines across South Asia exploded. Anjum didn't dodge it. After several hours when the video was circulated online, he went to X (previously Twitter) and told the world that art breaks no limits, and he will "do it again".
Notably, Pakistan is still raw from the four-day war in May, triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor struck deep into Pakistan’s territory.
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Then, in the weeks that followed, India banned Pakistani artists and music across platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram. Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams refused post-match handshakes with Pakistan, even as they defeated them.
Pakistani netizens blasted him as ‘reckless’ and ‘attention-seeking’
“api pet ka sawal hai,” one user quipped, while another added, “Attention mngrha ba.”
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"My heart has no place for hate. My art has no borders. If raising an Indian flag sparks controversy, so be it. I'll do it again. I will never care about the media, governments, or their propaganda. Urdu rap is and will always be borderless," he pushed back firmly on the outrage.
Interestingly, the Talha Anjum–Naezy beef began in mid-2024 when Naezy, during a casual podcast conversation, was asked about collaborating with Pakistani artists. He responded, "Kaun Talha?"
The comment irked Anjum, who is one half of the massively influential Karachi-based duo Young Stunners, alongside Talhah Yunus. Many listeners felt Naezy’s remark belittled Anjum’s stature in Urdu rap, despite Naezy himself being a pioneer of India’s street-rap movement with his gritty 'Bombay ki Boli' style.
