In a powerful and now viral moment, Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi — a well-known and controversial cleric from Islamabad's Lal Masjid — asked his audience if they would support Pakistan in a war against India. Shockingly, not a single person raised their hand.

This event happened almost two weeks after the deadly terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people and has since increased tensions between India and Pakistan. As Islamabad prepares for possible diplomatic and military consequences, signs of disagreement are growing within Pakistan’s religious and social groups. Speaking to students and adherents at Lal Masjid, a location long linked to radicalism and conflict with the state, Ghazi said, "I have a question for you. Tell me, if Pakistan fights against India, how many of you would support Pakistan and fight for it?" (No hands are raised) "This means there is enough understanding," he added. 

"Pakistan has a system of disbelief - a cruel, useless system - today," Ghazi continued, criticising the country's elite. " It is worse than India." The cleric also spoke about the violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the Pakistani government is attacking its own people with bombs.

"What happened in Balochistan, what they did in Pakistan and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - these are atrocities. When the people were ready, the state bombed its own citizens." A video recorded at Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid on May 2 has caused an uproar on Pakistani social media. Experts say this moment shows that many people in Pakistan are losing trust, not just in the country’s military and political leaders, but also in how the country views India.

When the clerics of Lal Masjid — once known for their extreme anti-India views — no longer support war against India, it shows serious divisions within Pakistan itself. These internal disagreements, along with recent threats involving nuclear weapons and hurried diplomatic efforts from Islamabad, reveal that the country is struggling with uncertainty both at home and in its international relations.