History bears witness to the horrific atrocities committed by Mughal rulers against Sikh Gurus. So extreme were these acts that even Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s young children were not spared. The heart of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 4-year-old son, Ajay Singh, was torn out and forced into Baba Ji’s mouth. Yet today, some Khalistani supporters, who claim to be champions of the Sikh cause, are seen forming friendly ties with Pakistan.
Sources even suggest that Pakistan has played a key role in the creation and advancement of the Khalistani movement, offering support and resources — a reflection of its longstanding hatred toward India. This hostility can be traced back to the era of the Sikh Gurus, notably when Mughal emperor Jahangir subjected the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev Ji, to torture by making him sit on a hot iron plate and pouring hot sand over his head. The reason? The Guru’s compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib did not please the Mughal court.
The ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur Ji, was beheaded in Delhi by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb because he stood up for the rights of Kashmiri Pandits who were being forced to convert to Islam. His martyrdom marked a turning point in Sikh history, as the faith evolved into a more militarized path to defend religious freedom. His son, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, fought several battles against the Mughals. Two of his elder sons were killed in the battle of Chamkaur, while his younger sons were bricked alive into a wall in Sirhind for refusing to convert to Islam.
However, it is worth noting that not all Muslims supported the Mughals — the Nawab of Malerkotla, a Muslim ruler, raised his voice against this cruelty. During and after Banda Singh Bahadur’s time, Mughal forces continued to massacre Sikhs on a large scale. Under rulers like Zakariya Khan, Sikh heads were displayed publicly, and bounties were placed on their identities.
The “Chhota Ghallughara” (Small Holocaust) in 1746 saw over 10,000 Sikhs killed, while the “Wadda Ghallughara” (Great Holocaust) in 1762, carried out by Mughal and Afghan armies such as those of Ahmad Shah Abdali, led to the martyrdom of 25,000 to 30,000 Sikh soldiers. Even during the 1947 Partition, thousands of innocent Hindu and Sikh civilians were brutally slaughtered in Pakistan by forces that had once been aligned with the Mughals.
Sources indicate that the Khalistani movement in India was revived during the 1980s with significant support from Pakistan. The Pakistani intelligence agency ISI is often accused of funding and promoting this movement to destabilize India. While many Khalistani sympathizers operate from countries like Canada, evidence repeatedly points to their continued support from Pakistan. The truth is, Pakistan has never desired peace in India. It has consistently attempted to disrupt India’s unity and integrity — often by provoking segments of the Indian Muslim community. Similar efforts are carried out openly in regions like Kashmir, where Pakistan-backed activities remain prevalent.
