A recent report alleges that Pakistan is employing Khalistani groups, under the direction of its intelligence services, as a tool to exacerbate tensions between Hindus and Sikhs within India. This alleged dual approach sees Pakistan publicly aligning with Sikh interests while privately funding and supporting Khalistani separatists to engage in activities that damage the worldwide perception of Sikhs. The report highlights a disturbing incident at Nankana Sahib as evidence of this purported agenda. Fourteen Hindu pilgrims, who had traveled from Delhi and Lucknow to commemorate Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary, were reportedly subjected to humiliation and forcibly returned by Pakistani officials. According to accounts, the pilgrims were informed by Pakistani authorities that they, as Hindus, could not travel with the Sikh group and were subsequently made to walk back toward the Indian border. This occurrence has prompted widespread questioning of Pakistan’s intentions, particularly the rationale behind granting visas only to expel individuals shortly after. The incident has been characterized as a shocking and discriminatory act. Notably, the affected Hindu families had previously lived in Pakistan, migrating to India in 1999 due to fears of persecution and later becoming Indian citizens. The pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib is a recognized religious event under the Shimla Agreement, often joined by Hindus who hold Guru Nanak Dev in high regard. The report emphasizes that Pakistan’s alleged actions, in separating and expelling these Hindu devotees, constitute a deep disrespect to their faith and to India itself, underscoring a continued reliance on divisive tactics.
