New Delhi, Nov.24,2025:Sindh controversy has flared into a full diplomatic row after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made provocative remarks suggesting that Sindh, a province in Pakistan, “may return to India”. The comments have triggered a forceful backlash from Pakistan, which described them as dangerous and revisionist. Against the backdrop of history, identity, and geopolitics, this episode risks stirring deep-seated tensions.
What Did Rajnath Singh Actually Say
In a speech at a Sindhi community event in New Delhi, Rajnath Singh invoked the writings of BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani to emphasize the civilisational link between Sindh and India. He stated
- “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India.”
- He added provocatively: “Borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India.”
- He also drew spiritual parallels, saying that many in Sindh revered the Indus (“Sindhu”) River as profoundly as Muslims revere Zamzam water.
Singh argued that many Sindhi Hindus of his generation continue to feel emotionally attached to their ancient homeland, never fully reconciling with its partition in 1947.
Pakistan’s Sharp Reaction
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) responded swiftly and strongly, condemning Singh’s remarks as “delusional and dangerously revisionist.” According to the FO
- The comments reflect an expansionist Hindutva mindset challenging the inviolability of internationally recognised borders.
- Such rhetoric is a violation of international law and Pakistan’s sovereignty.
- Islamabad urged New Delhi to refrain from provocative statements that threaten regional peace and stability.
- Instead, Pakistan argues, India should focus on protecting its own minority communities rather than make irredentist claims.
Sindh’s Civilisational Ties
To fully grasp why Singh’s comment caused such an uproar, one must understand Sindh’s historical and cultural significance
- Sindh is deeply rooted in ancient civilization, being home to Mohenjo-daro, one of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Over centuries, Sindh has witnessed Arab conquests (from 712 CE), Mughal rule, and native Sindhi dynasties.
- The Indus River (Sindhu) holds profound spiritual resonance not just in Hindu tradition but also within the shared civilisational memory of the region. Singh’s remarks tapped precisely into this sentiment.
Sindh’s Demographics and Cultural Legacy
Understanding Sindh today
- Sindh is a province in present-day Pakistan with over 5 crore (50+ million) people in its districts.
- Religious demographics: According to recent data, 91% of Sindh’s population is Muslim, while around 6–8 % are Hindus.
- The Umerkot district remains the only Hindu-majority district in Pakistan.
- Sindh’s capital is Karachi, which also forms a major industrial and economic hub.
Sindh and the Indus Valley Civilisation
Mohenjo-daro, located in Sindh, was one of the most advanced cities of its time — planned with streets, drainage systems, and sophisticated urban architecture.
This archaeological heritage gives Sindh a special place in world history as part of the Indus Valley Civilization, contributing to its identity as a cradle of ancient civilisation.
Hindus in Sindh
The role and status of Hindus in Sindh are deeply intertwined with its past and present
- Sindh has one of the highest Hindu populations in Pakistan.
- According to the 2023 census, approximately 4.9 million Hindus live in Sindh, making up 8.8% of the province’s population.
- Historically, many Sindhi Hindus trace their roots to the pre-partition era; figures like Lal Krishna Advani have spoken of their emotional and spiritual connection to Sindh.
- Sindhi Hindus have preserved temples and festivals, such as the annual Ramapir Mela at the Shri Ramapir Temple in Tando Allahyar.
Minority Rights and Tensions
The Sindh controversy is not just about rhetoric — it highlights real, ongoing challenges for minorities in the province
- There are reports and concerns about forced conversions, especially of Hindu girls in Sindh, raised by both Pakistani human rights bodies and international observers.
- The minority population often feels politically marginalized, and their security remains a sensitive matter.
- The diplomatic spat over Singh’s comments adds further strain, raising fears about how such rhetoric could influence domestic narratives and minority treatment.
Implications for India-Pakistan Relations
Rajnath Singh’s remarks and Pakistan’s outraged response have several broader implications
Regional Tensions: Such statements risk inflaming already precarious India–Pakistan relations, potentially undermining diplomatic trust.
Ideological Signals: By invoking a “civilisational claim” over Sindh, Singh’s rhetoric may stoke fears in Pakistan of irredentism rooted in ideological nationalism.
Domestic Audiences: For India, the remark resonates with a section of the Sindhi diaspora and Hindutva-aligned constituencies; for Pakistan, it becomes a rallying point to defend sovereignty.
International Norms: Pakistan’s response stressed that changing borders through rhetoric violates established international law and norms.
The Sindh controversy triggered by Rajnath Singh’s comments is far more than a rhetorical flare-up — it taps into deep historical memory, identity, and the fraught geopolitics of South Asia. While Singh framed his remarks in civilisational and emotional terms, Pakistan dismissed them as dangerously revisionist and expansionist. The incident underscores how the past continues to inform present-day geopolitics, and how symbolic geography can become a flashpoint in regional relations.
