On Sikhs, Nukes, Pakistan, and India

india_house.jpgIn the previous post, I had summarized a Stratfor report on the strong possibility of an Indian strike on Pakistan.  Some Sikh groups in the UK, recently, released a formal appeal asking the Indian government to remove Indian nukes from the Punjab territory.  Additional copies were given to the Pakistani embassy as well as the UN Security Council through the French Embassy.  These Sikh groups have correctly surmised that East Punjab’s geography places it on the frontline of any conflict between India and Pakistan.

While news of the appeal has been reported in some Sikh media outlets, it is interesting that the mainstream Pakistani press has also picked up the report.  The influential English-language Dawn writes:

The Sikhs maintain that they are not a party to the Indo-Pak dispute and, as non-combatants in the event of a war between the nuclear rivals, their population centre and homeland should not face what military experts have said is the likely outcome – a theatre of war in Punjab which becomes a nuclear conflict causing horrific casualties on a massive scale.[link]

While the report is focused on Sikh Diaspora requests, it comes at a significant moment of increasing self-confidence of the Sikh community in Pakistan.  Recently the Pakistani Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has requested the creation of separate institutes in Lahore to propagate Gurmukhi script instruction.  While the request has an immediate religious motive, Pakistani government sponsorship of such a relationship may serve a long-term function in bridging the script barrier between East and West Panjab.  Groups such as APNA have been at the forefront of such initiatives, this new impetus may also provide a launching site for Muslims to learn the Gurmukhi script.  I hope such initiatives will also begin in East Panjab to learn the Shahmukhi script.  Bridging this divide may help create new economic growth in the future.


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17 Responses to “On Sikhs, Nukes, Pakistan, and India”

  1. Haridner says:

    I believe that during war few promises will be kept.

    Nuclear war will be a free for all what I imaginewit the over kill capacities we have built.

    Many known towns will cease to exist as we know them today.

    It will be worth while for the population in Punjab and may be neighbouring states to build Nuclear Bunkers to ensure their survival in case madness grips the sub continent.

    Have 12 months food stocke in too.

    Consult some nuclear group specialist too to guide the population.

    "RAB RAKHA"

  2. Haridner says:

    I believe that during war few promises will be kept.
    Nuclear war will be a free for all what I imaginewit the over kill capacities we have built.
    Many known towns will cease to exist as we know them today.
    It will be worth while for the population in Punjab and may be neighbouring states to build Nuclear Bunkers to ensure their survival in case madness grips the sub continent.
    Have 12 months food stocke in too.
    Consult some nuclear group specialist too to guide the population.
    “RAB RAKHA”

  3. wudjab says:

    [Stupid comment]

    As usual.

    [at least attempt to say something meaningful….Admin Singh]

  4. wudjab says:

    [Stupid comment]
    As usual.

    [at least attempt to say something meaningful….Admin Singh]

  5. Trident says:

    lol…Hindus aren't really known for their fighting prowess. Seems to me that the Indian Gov't is trying to create a situation in which Sikhs in Punjab will be forced to fight in a Indo-Pak war. Those nukes aren't going nowhere. I fully expect Sikhs to fight off Muslims while the hindu majority watches from a safe distance.

  6. Trident says:

    lol…Hindus aren’t really known for their fighting prowess. Seems to me that the Indian Gov’t is trying to create a situation in which Sikhs in Punjab will be forced to fight in a Indo-Pak war. Those nukes aren’t going nowhere. I fully expect Sikhs to fight off Muslims while the hindu majority watches from a safe distance.

  7. chivas2005 says:

    I and my family are Sikh, many of my relatives have served or currently are proudly serving in the Indian Army. To say Sikhs are "non-combatants" in this mess is pure rubbish. It didn't protect us when my great grandfather had to leave his land during partition and it didn't protect Sikhs when they were slaughtered by the jihadi's in Kashmir. Sikhs have to side with Hindus/Muslims/Buddhists etc in India because they are Indian and not Pakistani. The government of Pakistan will not hesitate to bomb Punjab and kill as many Sikhs as possible in the event of a conflict.

  8. chivas2005 says:

    I and my family are Sikh, many of my relatives have served or currently are proudly serving in the Indian Army. To say Sikhs are “non-combatants” in this mess is pure rubbish. It didn’t protect us when my great grandfather had to leave his land during partition and it didn’t protect Sikhs when they were slaughtered by the jihadi’s in Kashmir. Sikhs have to side with Hindus/Muslims/Buddhists etc in India because they are Indian and not Pakistani. The government of Pakistan will not hesitate to bomb Punjab and kill as many Sikhs as possible in the event of a conflict.

  9. Mewa Singh says:

    The government of Pakistan will not hesitate to bomb Punjab and kill as many Sikhs as possible in the event of a conflict.

    Sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before?

    Balram Jakhar, a former speaker of the Indian Parliament once openly declared that "To preserve the unity of India, if we have to eradicate 20 million Sikhs, we will do so."

  10. Mewa Singh says:

    The government of Pakistan will not hesitate to bomb Punjab and kill as many Sikhs as possible in the event of a conflict.

    Sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before?

    Balram Jakhar, a former speaker of the Indian Parliament once openly declared that “To preserve the unity of India, if we have to eradicate 20 million Sikhs, we will do so.

  11. Haridner says:

    Balram Jakhar is not India .

    Just like Hitler is not representatives of all Catholics.

    Just like Auranzeb was not the best Mughal King.

    Good and bad people exists in all commmunity including SIKHS .

    We got to see if the whole mankind has turned to evil or not.

  12. Haridner says:

    Balram Jakhar is not India .

    Just like Hitler is not representatives of all Catholics.

    Just like Auranzeb was not the best Mughal King.

    Good and bad people exists in all commmunity including SIKHS .

    We got to see if the whole mankind has turned to evil or not.

  13. sanemam says:

    NO WAR IS GOING TO HAPPEN.BUT INDIANS MAY BE FORCED TO FIGHT A COVERT WAR WITH PAKISTAN AS PER THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND WHICH I MUST SAY IS VERY FLUID.THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT IN THE HISTORY OF PAKISTAN AS WELL AS INDIA.IF FANATICISM RISES IN PAKISTAN THEN I M VERY SURE A COUNTER WUD BE LAUNCHED IN INDIA WHICH I MUST SAY WUD BE DETRIMENTAL FOR WHOLE OF SOUTH ASIA.

  14. sanemam says:

    NO WAR IS GOING TO HAPPEN.BUT INDIANS MAY BE FORCED TO FIGHT A COVERT WAR WITH PAKISTAN AS PER THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND WHICH I MUST SAY IS VERY FLUID.THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT IN THE HISTORY OF PAKISTAN AS WELL AS INDIA.IF FANATICISM RISES IN PAKISTAN THEN I M VERY SURE A COUNTER WUD BE LAUNCHED IN INDIA WHICH I MUST SAY WUD BE DETRIMENTAL FOR WHOLE OF SOUTH ASIA.

  15. sanemam says:

    INDIA AND PAKISTAN WONT FIGHT A DIRECT WAR BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO INDULGE IN COVERT OPERATIONS,MAY BE PAKS'S CAPACITY WUD BE SLIGHTLY DIMINSHED BY THE ONGOING BATTLE ON ITS WESTERN FRONT.GOD HELP SOUTH ASIA!!!!

    [Don't Use all CAPS or you will get banned next time — Admin]

  16. sanemam says:

    INDIA AND PAKISTAN WONT FIGHT A DIRECT WAR BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO INDULGE IN COVERT OPERATIONS,MAY BE PAKS’S CAPACITY WUD BE SLIGHTLY DIMINSHED BY THE ONGOING BATTLE ON ITS WESTERN FRONT.GOD HELP SOUTH ASIA!!!!

    [Don’t Use all CAPS or you will get banned next time — Admin]