As Pakistan intensifies its anti-India propaganda, peddling falsehoods about attacks on Sikh religious sites and sowing division between Sikhs and the Indian state, it is crucial to expose the reality: these narratives are not only baseless, but serve to distract from Pakistan’s own dismal record of minority persecution and the tragic decline of its Sikh community.
Disinformation as a Weapon
In the wake of recent hostilities, Pakistan has unleashed a barrage of disinformation, claiming that India is attacking Sikh religious sites, staging attacks to blame Pakistan, or even plotting to destroy gurdwaras in Pakistan itself. These claims have been thoroughly debunked by Indian authorities and independent fact-checkers. For instance, allegations of Indian strikes on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara-a site of immense religious importance to Sikhs-were declared “completely fake” by India’s official fact-checking agency. Similarly, claims about India targeting its own cities or religious sites are described by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri as “deranged fantasy” a projection of tactics Pakistan itself has historically employed.
Pakistan’s campaign is not limited to digital misinformation. It has attempted to weaponise Sikh identity, circulating fabricated stories of Sikh rebellion within the Indian Army and using AI-generated videos to stoke communal discord. This is a calculated strategy to fracture India’s social fabric and undermine its unity, especially by targeting the Sikh community-a community that has played a proud and integral role in India’s history and armed forces.
The Stark Reality for Sikhs in Pakistan
While Pakistan attempts to portray itself as a protector of Sikh interests, the facts on the ground tell a different story. The Sikh population in Pakistan has plummeted from a few lakhs before partition to just 8,000 today decline so drastic that rights campaigners warn of the community being on the verge of extinction. This exodus is not voluntary; it is driven by systemic persecution, forced conversions, violence, and a lack of legal protection for minorities.
Sikh families in Pakistan live under constant threat. Reports document a litany of abuses: forced conversions and marriages of Sikh women, targeted killings, desecration of gurdwaras and graveyards, and repeated harassment and violence. In one chilling incident, Sikh community members received letters ordering them to convert to Islam or face deadly consequences. The Pakistani state’s failure to protect its minorities is compounded by discriminatory laws and a judicial system that offers little recourse for victims.
Gurdwaras in Ruins, Heritage Neglected
Pakistan’s neglect of Sikh religious heritage is equally damning. Many historic gurdwaras-once vibrant centers of faith and community-now languish in disrepair, encroached upon by local interests and ignored by authorities. Sacred sites have been vandalised or illegally occupied, depriving future generations of their cultural legacy. This neglect is emblematic of the broader marginalisation faced by Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan.
Contrast with India’s Record
India remains home to the world’s largest Sikh population. Sikh religious and cultural life flourishes across the country, from the Golden Temple in Amritsar to gurdwaras in every major city. Sikhs are represented at every level of society-politics, military, business, and culture. When places of worship are attacked, as tragically happened in Poonch due to Pakistani shelling, the Indian state acknowledges the loss, mourns with the community, and acts to protect all its citizens.
India’s commitment to pluralism and the rule of law stands in stark contrast to Pakistan’s record. Attempts to communalise or divide Indian society through external propaganda have repeatedly failed, as India’s unity and resilience remain unshaken.
What this Means
Pakistan’s latest disinformation campaign is not just a cynical ploy- it is an attempt to mask its own failures and the suffering of its minorities. The Sikh community in Pakistan is not thriving; it is struggling for survival. Its gurdwaras are not protected; they are neglected and encroached upon. Its people are not free; they are persecuted and fearful.
No amount of propaganda can erase these facts. The world must look beyond Pakistan’s manufactured narratives and hold it accountable for the real plight of its minorities-starting with the Sikhs, whose voices and heritage are fading within its borders.
