Sikh Separatist Urges Soldiers to Defy India

Sikh Separatist's Call to Side with Pakistan Draws National Outrage Amid Heightened Indo-Pak Tensions

 

In a controversial and widely condemned statement, separatist Sikh figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has appealed to Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army to refuse engagement against Pakistan, should conflict erupt between the two nations. This comes in the wake of rising Indo-Pak tensions following the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian nationals.

 

Pannu, who operates from overseas under the banner of the proscribed group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), issued a provocative video urging Sikh troops to oppose the Indian government’s response to Pakistani aggression. “Pakistan is not your enemy. It is a friendly nation to the Sikh people and will be our neighbour once we liberate Punjab,” he said, referring to the separatist dream of Khalistan.

The inflammatory message, seen as a direct attempt to sow discord within the Indian armed forces, further accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing a “jingoistic war.” Pannu’s call for defiance comes at a time when India is reeling from the brutal attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, believed to have been orchestrated by Pakistan-backed terror outfits.

Security analysts and former military officials have sharply rebuked the appeal, calling it both seditious and a dangerous attempt to fracture national unity. "This is psychological warfare at its worst," said Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain. "To suggest that soldiers should betray their oath to the Constitution is an act of treachery."

New Delhi has previously labelled SFJ as a foreign-funded secessionist outfit, operating with the implicit support of Pakistan’s ISI to destabilise India under the guise of advocating Sikh interests. Indian intelligence agencies have long warned of the group's efforts to radicalise the diaspora and foment unrest within the country.

The appeal has also been met with strong rejection from Sikh veterans and community leaders in India, who reaffirmed their loyalty to the Indian state. "We stand by the tricolour, not by foreign stooges," said Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Gagandeep Bakshi.

As the region teeters on the edge following yet another provocation, India’s internal cohesion and military discipline remain paramount. Pannu’s rhetoric, detached from ground realities, serves only to underline the enduring threat posed by foreign-backed propaganda.