Several large multinational brands, including Pizza Hut Inc., Domino’s Pizza Inc. and Yum Brands Inc.’s KFC, trended on social media in India on Tuesday, with calls for boycotts after some of their affiliates in Pakistan posted support for people in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Other brands that were targeted on Twitter included South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. and Atlas Honda Ltd., after accounts linked with the brands tweeted on the Kashmir Solidarity Day over the weekend, a holiday observed in Pakistan to show support for people in the India-administered part of the region.
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Kashmir is a highly sensitive issue for both the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, which have fought multiple wars over the region since their independence from the British in 1947.
The picturesque mountainous province, home to ski resorts and some of the largest military deployments, is ruled in part by India and Pakistan, but claimed in full by both.
KFC India apologized for the post on Monday. Hyundai India said it took steps to remove the posts made by an “independently-owned” distributor in Pakistan.
Atlas Honda could not be reached for a comment despite multiple calls. Pizza Hut and Domino’s in India didn’t immediately respond to requests for comments.
Many of the tweets were unavailable by Tuesday, even though Twitter users continued to post screen shots, keeping the issue as the main trending topic in India over two days this week.
Read more:
Hyundai faces public ire in India after Pakistani partner tweets on Kashmir
Indian forces kill militants in disputed Kashmir, Pakistan condemns deaths
Kashmir journalist arrested under India’s anti-terror law
