On May 23, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) filed a complaint with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), demanding a probe into the Cochin University Alumni Association (CUBAA) and its office bearers for hosting Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, both known for their extremist views, at the Pakistan Association Hall in Dubai. The complaint was submitted by ABVP Kerala State Secretary E U Eshwara Prasad.
According to the complaint, CUBAA-UAE accorded a “Kerala model reception” to Afridi and Gul on May 25. It further states that the event was held at a venue facilitated by the Pakistan Embassy. The complaint highlights that the event took place at a sensitive time when the nation is united against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, especially following the killing of 26 Indian citizens by terrorists in Pahalgam and India’s military response through Operation Sindoor on Pakistani soil. The complaint alleges that the event was used to project a false narrative of a divide between the Indian public and the Indian government, a message that was widely amplified by the Pakistani media.
Speaking to the Organiser, E U Eswaraprassad, State Secretary of ABVP Kerala, said: “Last year, extremists tried to organise an art festival titled ‘Intifada’ at Kerala University, with support from leftist organisations promoting pro-Hamas agendas in the state. It has emerged that CUBAA-UAE office bearers were linked to left-wing and Islamist groups during their time at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), and these links persist. This raises serious concerns about CUBAA-UAE’s potential sympathies towards terrorist activities, especially amid Kerala’s increasingly terrorist-friendly climate. Given this context, it is essential to probe the role of these office bearers in hosting individuals like Afridi at Pakistan Association Hall in Dubai. The ABVP demands a thorough investigation into whether they were involved in espionage for Pakistan, including sharing sensitive information about Kerala while living abroad.”
Longstanding Ties Between CUBAA-UAE and Pakistani Networks
As mentioned in the complaint, the CUBAA, a leftist-Islamist Kerala group, has auspiciously maintained longstanding contacts with Pakistani authorities, with some members reportedly compromising national interests for contracts and monetary benefits from Pakistan. The explanatory note issued by CUBAA-UAE avoided mentioning Pakistan or the recent Pahalgam terror attack and revealed that the same venue was used in 2024 celebrations, indicating an ongoing relationship with the Pakistani networks. Despite the Pahalgam attack on April 11 and India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, CUBAA-UAE proceeded with the event booked on April 5, coinciding suspiciously with India’s all-party diplomatic delegation visit to the UAE on May 21 and 22, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.
The event appeared to be part of a coordinated effort to undermine India’s diplomatic initiatives in the UAE, as Pakistan simultaneously ran a propaganda campaign involving celebrities with ties to the ISI and extremist groups. Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, who attended the event, were not uninvited guests but were formally introduced on stage by CUBAA-UAE officials, contradicting organisers’ claims of accidental attendance. Operating under the guise of a Malayali alumni association, CUBAA-UAE is accused of advancing the ISI’s agenda to mislead the international community at a time when India stands united against Pakistan. This situation demands a thorough investigation into the ties between the Pakistani embassy, Pakistan Association officials, and CUBAA-UAE members, with strict actions.
