According to a report by PTI, the devotees were stopped after crossing into Pakistan through the Attari–Wagah border. Officials allegedly told them, “You are Hindu, you cannot go with a Sikh jatha.” Amar Chand, one of those turned back along with six family members, said that despite having valid travel documents and clearance from Indian immigration, they were refused entry once inside Pakistan.

As per the Hindustan Times report, the jatha of around 1,900 Sikh pilgrims had crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday to participate in the Parkash Purb festivities. Chand’s family, along with seven others from Lucknow, had joined the group intending to offer prayers at prominent gurdwaras, including Nankana Sahib. However, all 14 were sent back by Pakistani officials soon after entering.

As per the HT report, a Punjab intelligence officer posted at the border confirmed the incident, saying: “Those denied entry are Hindus by faith, originally from Pakistan but settled in India for many years. They held valid Indian passports and had obtained immigration clearance from our side. Once they entered Pakistan, officials there examined their documents and returned them to the BSF.”

Interestingly, other Hindu devotees in the same jatha faced no such problems. Palwinder Singh, head of the pilgrimage department of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which organises the largest pilgrim groups, clarified:

“Nearly 40 Hindus are part of our group this year, and almost all entered Pakistan without any issue. Many Hindu followers of Guru Nanak travel every year for these pilgrimages — they have never been barred on the basis of religion.”

The SGPC jatha will remain in Pakistan until November 13, visiting key Sikh shrines including Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal), Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur, Narowal), Gurdwara Sacha Sauda (Farooqabad), Gurdwara Dehra Sahib (Lahore), and Gurdwara Rori Sahib (Gujranwala).

Amar Chand recounted that his family had even paid ₹95,000 (Pakistani rupees) for bus tickets after clearing all formalities. “Five officials came and told us to get down from the bus, saying Hindus can’t go with Sikh pilgrims. We were then sent back, and our money was not refunded,” he said. Chand, originally from Pakistan, moved to India in 1999 and obtained Indian citizenship in 2010.

Meanwhile, more than 200 other applicants were stopped at the Indian side of the border as they lacked final approval from the Union Home Ministry.

Earlier, the Indian government had initially decided against sending any jatha to Pakistan this year citing security concerns after Operation Sindoor. However, it later allowed a limited group to proceed under strict conditions.

Under the 1950 Nehru–Liaquat Pact, Sikh pilgrims are permitted to visit Pakistan’s revered shrines on four key occasions each year — Baisakhi, Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary, and Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary.

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The post Pakistan denies entry to 14 Hindu devotees in Sikh ‘jatha’ visiting for Guru Nanak Jayanti appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The arrest was made based on complaints filed by Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, and Yogesh Jatheri, the village sarpanch of Jatheri and general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Haryana.

He was charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:

• Section 152 – Act endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India
• Section 353 – Statements conducing to public mischief
• Section 79 – Word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
• Section 196(1)(b) – Promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds
• Section 197(1)(c) – Assertions prejudicial to national integration
• Section 299 – Malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings

According to Sonipat DCP (Crime) Narinder Kadian, Mahmudabad was produced before a local court and remanded to two days’ police custody for investigation.

Background: ‘Operation Sindoor’, national briefing and the right to express opinions

On the morning of May 7, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces carried out coordinated missile strikes targeting nine terrorist camps situated in PoK and Pakistan. This operation was executed as a retaliatory measure following the mass killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam. The campaign, named Operation Sindoor, marked a significant escalation in India’s counterterror strategy.

Later that day, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressed the media. The press briefing, led by these two senior women officers, was widely covered and praised across media platforms and by political commentators, especially from the Hindutva spectrum.

On May 8, a day after the press briefing, Professor Mahmudabad posted a message on social media reflecting on the public reception of the briefing. In his post, he noted the irony of right-wing voices praising the two women officers, particularly Colonel Qureshi, while remaining silent on domestic issues such as mob lynchings, arbitrary demolitions, and religiously motivated violence.

“Perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens,” Mahmudabad wrote.

He further commented:

“The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground—otherwise it’s just hypocrisy.” (Detailed report may be read here.)

These remarks were interpreted by the complainants as a denigration of national military efforts and an attempt to communalise and politicise a national security operation.

Basis for arrest

Haryana State Commission for Women’s action: As per the report of Hindustan Times, The Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s remarks, alleging that they were:

• Insulting to women officers in the Indian Armed Forces
• An attempt to create communal disharmony
• A violation of public order during a sensitive national moment

The commission issued a summons to Mahmudabad on May 14, which he reportedly ignored. On May 15, commission officials visited Ashoka University, but he allegedly did not appear before them.

In her police complaint, Chairperson Renu Bhatia accused Mahmudabad of:

• “Using the narrative of war” despite no official declaration of war
• Calling a political party “a hate-mongering entity,” which she claimed was prejudicial and inflammatory

Second Complaint and BJP’s involvement: As per the report of Indian Express, the second FIR was based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, sarpanch of Jatheri village and BJP youth leader. He alleged that Mahmudabad’s comments had “deeply hurt him on a personal level” and were anti-national in tone.

Haryana BJP spokesperson Sanjay Sharma defended the FIRs and police action, stating:

“Security agencies are taking action as appropriate for the security of the country.”

Professor Mahmudabad’s response

Prior to his arrest and after receiving the notice of the Women’s Commission, in a public statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mahmudabad had defended his comments and criticized the interpretation made by the Women’s Commission:

“I am surprised that the Women’s Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misread and misunderstood my posts to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning.”

He added that his academic and public work has consistently focused on promoting peace, protecting constitutional values, and supporting national unity. He emphasized that his intent was not to disparage the military, but to:

“Applaud the Indian armed forces for their resolute action, while criticising those who preach hatred and seek to destabilise India.”

My statement re the summons that I received from the Haryana State Women’s Commission.

The posts that were misunderstood and objected to can be accessed on my Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/U4rZrAXhFx

— Ali Khan Mahmudabad (@Mahmudabad) May 14, 2025

Legal and institutional implications

On Monday, May 19, senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared before a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih in the Supreme Court, seeking urgent hearing in the matter of Professor Mahmudabad’s arrest.

“He has been arrested for a patriotic statement,” Sibal submitted, as per LiveLaw, urging the court to take up the case without delay.

The bench responded that the matter would be listed for hearing on May 20 or 21, indicating a willingness to assess the legality and urgency of the arrest.

Professor Mahmudabad is an accomplished scholar and public intellectual known for his research, writings, and policy work. He has previously collaborated with senior bureaucrats, military officers, and policymakers and is recognized for advocating constitutional values, secularism, and national integration. His arrest has sparked discussions around academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the limits of lawful criticism during national security events. Many have raised concerns about the criminalisation of political commentary, especially when it involves criticism of the ruling party or state institutions.

Political Reactions: Widespread condemnation from the opposition

The arrest triggered a wave of criticism from across the Opposition spectrum, with political leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) calling it an assault on free speech and academic independence.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge issued a scathing statement on social media: “The arrest of Ashoka University professor, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, shows how fearful the BJP is of any opinion disliked by them.”

Kharge drew attention to what he described as the BJP’s double standards, noting that while Mahmudabad was arrested for a “thoughtful” post, no action was taken against Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah, who on May 12 made sexist and communal remarks referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as “their own sister (unki samaj ki behen ke zariye)” in the context of Operation Sindoor. (Details may be read here.)

In his social media post, Kharge added: “Instead of acting against their own ministers for disparaging the armed forces, BJP-RSS is determined to silence voices that support pluralism, challenge the government, or simply do their job with integrity.”

He concluded by reaffirming that for the Congress, national unity and democracy must prevail, and supporting the armed forces does not mean silencing dissent.

The Indian National Congress stands with our Armed Forces, bureaucrats, academicians, intellectuals and their families.

I condemn any character assassination, vilification, trolling, harassment, unlawful arrest of any individual and vandalism of any business entity, either…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 19, 2025

Congress media head Pawan Khera described the arrest as the criminalisation of dissent: “A historian and academic is jailed not for inciting violence, but for advocating against it. His crime? Daring to speak truth to power and calling out the BJP’s chest-thumping hypocrisy.”

Khera added that Mahmudabad’s “only mistake” was that “he wrote a thoughtful post—and his other mistake is his name.” He further reminded that Mahmudabad is the grandson of Padma Bhushan awardee Jagat S. Mehta, a former Foreign Secretary of India who served under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He accused the BJP of employing the state machinery to silence writers, professors, and critics, and warned that the “real enemy is democracy itself when dissent is treated as criminal.”

Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested for a thoughtful Facebook post. This is the state of New India under the Modi government.

A historian and academic is jailed not for inciting violence but for advocating against it. His crime? Daring to speak truth to power, exposing the… pic.twitter.com/wLiVNFujTE

— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) May 18, 2025

SP President Akhilesh Yadav joined the chorus of condemnation with a poetic critique: “Hukmaraanon kee badazubaanee par bhee aazaadee, aur kisee kee sach kahane par giraftaaree (Freedom when rulers use foul language, but arrest when someone speaks the truth.)”

हुक्मरानों की बदज़ुबानी पर भी आज़ादी
और किसी की सच कहने पर गिरफ़्तारी

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 19, 2025

According to the report of Scroll, Abdul Hafeez Gandhi, SP national spokesperson, also defended Mahmudabad’s right to dissent: “He is being unfairly targeted for exercising his constitutional right to free speech. This is a misuse of state power.”

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi labeled the arrest “utterly condemnable”, arguing that Mahmudabad was punished for a reasoned opinion: “His post wasn’t anti-national or misogynistic. A mere complaint by a BJP worker was enough for Haryana police to act with such speed.”

Utterly condemnable. If true, Haryana police reportedly arrested him from Delhi, violating legal process. This targets an individual for his opinions; his post wasn’t anti-national or misogynistic. A mere complaint by a BJP worker made Haryana police take action. https://t.co/xsOpdmAd7R

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 18, 2025

Leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also weighed in, calling the arrest “deplorable”, “politically motivated”, and a “clear threat to freedom of expression” in academia and public discourse.

Ashoka University’s ambivalent stance amid controversy

Ashoka University has taken a cautious and somewhat distancing approach following the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad. Prior to the arrest, the institution had made it clear that the professor’s social media posts were his personal opinions and did not represent the university’s official stance — a move that critics say reflects a reluctance to robustly defend academic freedom in a highly charged political climate.

As per the Indian Express, in its statement after the arrest, Ashoka University struck a neutral tone, stating it was “in the process of ascertaining the details” and that it would “continue to cooperate fully with the police and local authorities.” This measured response, while procedural, has been viewed by many as an insufficient show of solidarity with a faculty member facing what supporters call a politically motivated and disproportionate crackdown on free expression.

The university’s unwillingness to firmly oppose the arrest, especially when the charges appear tied to Mahmudabad’s academic and critical engagement with national issues, has raised concerns about institutional complicity in curbing dissent and the broader erosion of academic autonomy in India today. Those supporting Mahmudabad against this illegal arrest argue that in such times, silence or neutrality from educational institutions emboldens state overreach and undermines the very values universities are meant to uphold.

Academic and Civil Society Response: Outrage over “targeted harassment”

Ashoka University faculty and students stands by Professor Mahmudabad: As per the report of Indian Express, in an internal email circulated Sunday, the Committee for Academic Freedom (CAF) at Ashoka University denounced the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad as a “disproportionate punishment made on flimsy grounds” and labelled it a “fundamental attack on academic freedom”.

The Ashoka University Faculty Association also issued a formal statement condemning the arrest, describing the charges as “groundless and untenable”. The faculty detailed what they termed “calculated harassment”, saying Professor Mahmudabad was:

• Arrested early in the morning from his Delhi home,
• Taken to Sonipat without a transit remand,
• Denied access to necessary medication, and
• Driven around for hours without clear communication about his location.

The statement described him as “an invaluable member of the university community”, noting his scholarship, character, and commitment to Constitutional values, pluralism, and academic integrity:

“He has taught us what it means to be a citizen-scholar: rational, critical, yet deeply respectful and generous in engagement with the world… We demand his immediate and unconditional release and the dropping of all charges.”

The Faculty Association of @AshokaUniv strongly condemns the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science, on 18 May 2025, on groundless and untenable charges. 1/-

— Maya Mirchandani (@maya206) May 18, 2025

Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s students wrote a strong message pf solidarity for him.

@Mahmudabad‘s students this semester have written a beautiful and strong message in solidarity with their beloved professor. The class was called Banish the Poets. Have a read!
Faculty and students, we all stand in solidarity with him. pic.twitter.com/lUzU29JOnk

— Arpita Das (she/her) (@arpitayodapress) May 19, 2025

Over 1,000 scholars sign letter of support: A public letter of support, endorsed by over 1,000 academics and intellectuals, rallied behind Mahmudabad, calling the arrest a “preposterous” overreach that reflects the erosion of freedom of expression in India.

Prominent signatories include Romila Thapar, Ramachandra Guha, Jayati Ghosh, Nivedita Menon and Ram Puniyani.

The letter stated: “It is preposterous that we have come to such a pass in India that even praising the army, albeit while criticising those who clamour for war, can now invite such targeted harassment and attempted censorship.”

It praised Mahmudabad’s posts for recognizing the collapsing distinction between terrorists and the Pakistani military, while also celebrating India’s secular values through the representation of women officers in public briefings.

“Far from being misogynist or anti-national, Prof Khan’s posts are driven by a clear moral vision of what being a good citizen means… the words of a true patriot concerned with the lives of both soldiers and citizens.”

My sincere thanks to Profs Apoorvanand and Vaidik. It is heartening and humbling to see this cross-sectional support. My profound thanks to the 1200+ people who have signed, called and written in support, especially faculty and students.

Link to letter:https://t.co/LXVhadLezr pic.twitter.com/HLOJ86wRNP

— Ali Khan Mahmudabad (@Mahmudabad) May 17, 2025

Voices from Academia: Delhi University professor Apoorvanand sharply criticised the legality of the arrest: “Haryana police has illegally arrested Dr Ali Khan. Taken from Delhi to Haryana without a transit remand. FIR filed at 8 PM. Police reached his home at 7 AM the next morning!”

The arrest of Dr Ali Khan has a message:a Muslim can express his ideas but should not expect freedom after that. It is to tell Muslims that your elites ll be shown their place. Their stature goes against them.This arrest irrationally reminded me of the fate of Ehsan Jafri Sb.

— Apoorvanand अपूर्वानंद (@Apoorvanand__) May 19, 2025

Meanwhile, as per the report of The Hindu, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) issued a strong condemnation:

“The JNUTA expresses its outrage at the wholly unwarranted arrest by the Haryana Police of Dr Khan. This arrest… follows soon after the Haryana State Commission for Women acted way beyond its jurisdiction in taking suo motu cognisance of some statements made by Professor Khan.”

Conclusion

The arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad represents a deeply troubling precedent in India’s democratic fabric, where the right to critique, question, and engage in reasoned public discourse is increasingly being criminalized under vague and politically motivated charges. This case starkly illustrates how academic freedom and freedom of expression—cornerstones of any vibrant democracy—are under siege. Instead of fostering dialogue and dissent as essential elements of national progress, the state apparatus appears to be weaponizing the law to silence voices that challenge the dominant narrative or critique government policies.

The swift and heavy-handed action against a respected scholar, whose academic work consistently upholds constitutional values, pluralism, and national integration, signals a dangerous erosion of institutional autonomy and intellectual independence. Moreover, the involvement of political actors and regulatory bodies in what should be academic and civil society debates raises critical questions about the misuse of power and the shrinking space for dissent.

As voices from academia, civil society, and political opposition unite in demanding Professor Mahmudabad’s immediate release and the dropping of all charges, this case must serve as a clarion call for safeguarding democratic freedoms in India. Upholding the principles of free expression and academic inquiry is not merely an academic concern—it is a vital defense against authoritarian tendencies that threaten the pluralistic and secular foundations of the nation. In defending Professor Mahmudabad, the right of every citizen to speak truth to power without fear of reprisal, and affirm the enduring strength of India’s democracy is being protected.

Related:

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Apology and Accountability: CJP files complaint with six news channels for airing misleading war clips, false terror claims in ‘Operation Sindoor’ coverage

Full Text | Ashoka University Professor Ali Mahmudabad’s Posts that Haryana Police Calls ‘Sedition’

Pahalgam Tragedy and Rising Spiral of Hatred

The post How high is the price of criticism? Professor Mahmudabad arrested for his criticism of politics of hatred appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This means that South Asia has one of the highest population densities in the world, estimated as the number of people living in one square km.

While the entire world has a population density of about 60, South Asia has a population density of 303, over five times the world average.

In several cities of South Asia the population density can be many times more. In the most densely populated district of Karachi Central, the population density is 55,396. In Kolkata this is 24,252.

One of the implications of very high population density is that in any modern-day war which uses very destructive weapons, loss of life can potentially be much higher compared to most other countries. To mention two war and civil war-ravaged countries which have suffered high war-related mortality in recent times, Ukraine has population density of 67 while Sudan has population density of 29. This gives an indication of potentially how high war mortality can be in conditions of very high population density that prevail in South Asia.

These and several other facts regarding very high risks must be kept in consideration at a time when a lot of concern is being expressed regarding the increasing possibilities of escalation of war-risks involving India and Pakistan.

However the single most important factor is not regarding the risk escalation of recent days. The most important fact is that India and Pakistan have stepped back from such high risk situations in the past to avoid war. If they could do so in the past, they should be able to do so now too, thereby saving South Asia from massive distress and disaster.

Both sides are heavily armed and are in a position to procure more weapons from bigger powers. Both sides are nuclear weapon powers and there are estimates of the two countries having a total of about 340 nuclear weapons, more or less in equal numbers.

War involving any such two countries A and B may take this path—in the first few days there is high loss of life from conventional weapons on both sides but with the passage of time the bigger conventional power A gains a clear edge, and then faced with a serious crisis, the weaker power B resorts to using nuclear weapons and in reply immediately the stronger power A also uses nuclear weapons.

Of course this is not a very likely path as leaders of both countries being well aware of the unacceptably high dangers of nuclear weapons are likely to stop short of using these but at the same time the possibility of use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out entirely, and this is a very big risk indeed, an unacceptably high risk.

The risks have also increased at present because of other big wars occupying the attention of great powers. However even otherwise the will-power for playing non-partisan mediator role has reduced and instead there is much more arbitrariness in evidence at the international level. The role of the United Nations has been steadily becoming less significant.

At the same time the existence of bilateral security arrangements or risk-minimizing arrangements between India and Pakistan are extremely weak and inadequate just now.

Hence the best policy for both countries is to quickly move back from any risks of war. Leaders of both countries simply have to display greater maturity and commitment to peace and if they do so, history will still remember them for saving South Asia from disaster.

People of both countries have deep respect for several sacred sites and places of great cultural heritage located in the other country. People of both countries have much to benefit from having better relations with each other. Let us not forget all this in the heat of the present day intense hostilities. If good sense of quickly stopping further escalation prevails today, in the coming years this wisdom and good sense will be greatly appreciated by the people as well as the upcoming generation.

The world is already deeply troubled by war and conflict. Let us not add to this by igniting a new one between two nuclear weapon countries. No other kind of war can be more risky than a war between two nuclear weapon countries.

Both countries have important development challenges ahead of them. The path of development and meeting the needs and aspirations of all people will be seriously harmed if war breaks out.

If this war breaks out then everyone involved will suffer to some extent and in some way or the other, and in the worst case scenario there will be the kind of massive destruction that only nuclear weapons can cause. Neighbouring countries not involved in the war will also be very adversely affected.

So the leaders of both the countries should do their best to avoid the possibility of such a war.

(The author is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071 and Man over Machine—A Path to Peace)           

The post South Asia must stay away from war: High risks and costs for all appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It is imperative that what has happened should not be exaggerated, and the tendency of certain sections to exaggerate and hence further provoke conflict between two neighbouring countries of the global south should be checked.

In fact it is important to emphasise that this is a time for de-escalation, restraint and diplomacy to ensure that any further escalation can be avoided. It is important to emphasise that the two countries are not at war with each other, and it is certainly possible to avoid a war at this stage. Such situations have arisen in the past, even during the last decade, and therefore even now, things could be scaled back without causing a war. The situation at present is no worse than it was at that time. If good sense prevails, then two neighbours could gradually revert back towards more or less normal times. There is no reason why this cannot happen again. Exaggerated accounts will only worsen the prospects for peace.

India’s stand on the attack in the form of Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 has been conveyed in these words, “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”

This is very far from being war-talk. From this point if de-escalation and restraint are exercised, as emphasised by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier on May 5, it is certainly possible to avoid war. The UN Chief had stated on May 5 that it is very important to avoid a military confrontation that could spin out of control. He also stated that the UN stands ready to support any initiative of de-escalation, diplomacy and a renewed commitment to peace. Now again on May 7 soon after the attack the UN Chief has again called for ‘maximum military restraint” adding that the world cannot afford a war between the two countries.

Exchange of fire has been reported since the Pahalgam attack from some border areas, and various kinds of hostile measures have been announced by both sides, including those relating to trade, economic ties, travel and water-sharing. One hopes that following de-escalation several of these decisions can be reconsidered by both sides. However the biggest urgency just now is to avoid the possibility of further escalation which, as the UN chief has warned, has the danger of spinning out of control. Such a high risk should be avoided in all circumstances as both sides are nuclear weapon countries and it is widely recognized that any war between such countries should always be avoided. There may be very low likelihood of actual use of nuclear weapons as leaders of both countries are after all well aware of the possibility that the nearly 340 nuclear weapons the two countries are estimated to possess can destroy the entire region and in fact a much wider area. Nevertheless even with the low likelihood of actual use, the well-established understanding and wisdom is that the potential of destruction being so high, two nuclear weapon countries should not come even close to the possibility of war.   An already deeply troubled world simply cannot afford such high risks and all arguments are strongly in favour of de-escalation and return to near normalcy in the relationship between India and Pakistan as early as possible.

(The author is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Saving Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071 and Man over Machine—A Path to Peace)        

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Poonch Victims: Civilians as targets of shelling

The post After India’s ‘limited strikes’ on Pakistan, de-escalation, restraint, diplomacy needed to avoid war appeared first on SabrangIndia.

X informed that “X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees.”

X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to…

— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 8, 2025

Targeted accounts include international media and prominent users

According to X, the orders require blocking access to a broad range of accounts, including those belonging to international news organisations and prominent users on the platform.  Notably, the government has not provided specific details about the alleged legal violations committed by many of these accounts.

“The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users. In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India’s local laws. For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts,” X said.

We disagree with the Indian government’s demands: X

To comply with the government’s directives, X stated it will withhold the specified accounts exclusively in India, ensuring they remain accessible from outside the country.

“We have begun that process. However, we disagree with the Indian government’s demands. Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content…” X said

X raises concerns over censorship and transparency

While moving forward with compliance, X strongly criticised the nature of the orders. It emphasised that blocking entire accounts amounts to pre-emptive censorship and threatens the free flow of information. X reiterated the importance of transparency in such matters and expressed frustration that legal constraints prevent it from publishing the executive orders.

“We believe that making these executive orders public is essential for transparency – lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision-making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time,” it said.

Legal action and advice to impacted users

X also revealed that it is exploring all possible legal avenues to contest the government’s directives. However, it acknowledged limitations in challenging these orders under Indian law and urged affected users to seek redress through the courts.

“Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. However, we encourage all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts,” the post by X said.

We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action: Maktoob

Following a government directive, X has withheld the X account of Maktoob Media in India. The platform has not provided a clear explanation, and the reasons behind this action remain undisclosed.

Aslah Kayyalakkath, founding editor of Maktoob Media, condemned the move, calling it an arbitrary act that strikes at the heart of press freedom.

“We have learned that @MaktoobMedia’s X account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand. We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action. It is an assault on press freedom,” he stated. He further added that publication’s continued commitment to independent journalism despite mounting pressure.

We have learned that @MaktoobMedia’s X account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand. We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action. It is an assault on press freedom. Maktoob pledges to continue its crucial work at a time when truth… pic.twitter.com/jjjggFt8ak

— Aslah Kayyalakkath (@aslahtweets) May 8, 2025

“Maktoob pledges to continue its crucial work at a time when truth is becoming a casualty. At this hour of crisis, we ask our allies to share links from our website to help people access our reporting. We are many, many more than them” he said

The withholding of Maktoob Media’s account comes amid a growing pattern of restrictions on digital media platforms, raising fresh concerns over freedom of expression and the silencing of critical voices.

X account of senior journalist Anuradha Bhasin suspended, TheWire also faces crackdown

The X account of senior journalist Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, has been suspended. Bhasin, known for her independent and fearless reporting from Kashmir, has been a significant voice for credible journalism, often providing verified, on-the-ground information that challenges official narratives.

Along with Bhasin’s account suspension, The Wire, one of India’s few remaining independent digital news outlets, has been blocked nationwide. But later visible.

Journalist Mandeep Punia has raised concerns over the growing crackdown on independent voices. He criticised the suspension of Bhasin’s account and the blocking of The Wire‘s website, stating:
“Credible journalists are being blocked, while those spreading fake news are being promoted. The Wire’s website has been blocked, and senior journalist @AnuradhaBhasin_’s Twitter account, which consistently provided credible information, has also been suspended.”

सही ख़बरें दिखाने वालों को ब्लॉक किया जा रहा है और फेक न्यूज़ फैलाने वालों को प्रमोट. द वायर की वेबसाइट को ब्लॉक कर दिया गया है.

कश्मीर की सीनियर पत्रकार @AnuradhaBhasin_ का ट्विटर अकाउंट भी ब्लॉक कर दिया गया है, वह लगातार क्रेडिबल जानकारियां पहुँचा रही थीं. https://t.co/2sCAu4uOmR

— Mandeep Punia (@mandeeppunia1) May 9, 2025

Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire responds to the crackdown

Siddharth Varadarajan, founder of The Wire, has condemned the actions against his platform and Bhasin’s account. He called the blocking of the website and account a clear violation of press freedom in India. Varadarajan’s statement read:

“Dear readers of The Wire, in a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, the Government of India has blocked access to thewire.in across India.”

Dear Readers of The Wire In a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, the Government of India has blocked access to https://t.co/BCdnZhucBj across India. + pic.twitter.com/YO0TlQkVVL

— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) May 9, 2025

After post, X’s Global Affairs account temporarily withheld in India, later restored

After the Indian government directed the blocking of approximately 8,000 accounts on X (formerly Twitter), citing national security concerns, the platform made this information public through its official global affairs handle, @GlobalAffairs. The move sparked widespread discussion and debate across the internet about the nature and transparency of such governmental block orders. In a surprising development, shortly after these discussions gained traction, the @GlobalAffairs account itself was briefly withheld in India.

Reacting to the development, ALT News co-founder and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair posted on X, “Wait! @GlobalAffairs is withheld in India.”

Wait! @GlobalAffairs is withheld in India. pic.twitter.com/RkYbgC8CkE

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 9, 2025

However, the account became visible again soon after.

The account is now visible but the post is withheld now. https://t.co/rUDhqzi7UG

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 9, 2025

Pakistan-based news outlets blocked on X amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions

The X (formerly Twitter) handles of prominent Pakistan-based news organisations such as Dawn and GeoNews are currently inaccessible in India, marking a continuation of the government’s broader clampdown on digital content originating from across the border. This move comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military action, and reflects a growing strategy of information control during times of national security concerns.

In a rare disclosure, X revealed the volume of content takedown requests issued by Indian authorities, shedding light on the expansive scale of censorship tied to the operation. The restrictions follow a similar move last month when, after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels—including major broadcasters like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and GeoNews—accusing them of spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and disinformation targeting India and its security forces.

Disinformation surge on social media during ‘Operation Sindoor’

As Operation Sindoor unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, platforms like X became a breeding ground for disinformation. Unverified visuals of airstrikes, exaggerated claims of retaliatory attacks, and even repurposed footage from video games were widely circulated, contributing to confusion and misinformation.

Pakistan Propaganda Alert!

A video showing a heavy MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems) barrage is being falsely shared as a real Pakistani attack on India.#PIBFactCheck

The video is from a video game and has been online for over 3 years.

It has no connection to… pic.twitter.com/VXAE93YfXs

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check unit actively intervened, debunking several viral posts. One such claim involved a forged letter allegedly written by a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist about a supposed BrahMos missile failure—PIB confirmed the letter was fake and that no such scientist exists.

Fake Letter Alert

A letter undersigned by scientist AS Kumar from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is being circulated online alleging a failure in BrahMos missile components.#PIBFactCheck

The letter is fake

@DRDO_India has not issued any… pic.twitter.com/Spd2Hy0QTi

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 7, 2025

In another instance, old footage of a crashed aircraft was falsely linked to a recent Pakistani strike, alleging the downing of an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur.

Propaganda Alert!

Beware of old images shared by pro-Pakistan handles in the present context!

An #old image showing a crashed aircraft is being circulated with the claim that Pakistan recently shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur during the ongoing #OperationSindoor… pic.twitter.com/LdkJ1JYuH0

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 7, 2025

PIB verified that the footage was outdated and the claim baseless.

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The post Following executive order from government, X asked to block 8000 accounts in India appeared first on SabrangIndia.

While Poonch is reportedly the worst hit, several sectors in Kashmir Valley were also reportedly rocked by shelling. The Indian Army confirmed that a soldier had died on Wednesday. “GOC and all ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of L/Nk Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, who laid down his life on May 7 during Pakistan Army shelling. We also stand in solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in Poonch sector,” the 16 Corps, Indian Army, posted on X.An unconfirmed list of other civilians killed by Pakistani shelling (totalling 15) – published by Maktoob Media includes: Balvinder Kaur alias Ruby (aged 33), Mohd Zain Khan (aged 10 years), Zoya Khan (12), Mohd Akram (40), Amrik Singh (55), Mohd Iqbal (45), Ranjeet Singh (48), Shakeela Bi (40), Amarjeet Singh (47), Maryam Khatoun (7), Vihaan Bhargav (13), Mohd Rafi (40) and three identified.

#OperationSindoor | Pak Army Shelling Kills Civilians In Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, Tangdhar

NDTV’s @ghazalimohammad joins @maryashakil with a ground report from Rajouri pic.twitter.com/9GJgzqA8yF

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 8, 2025

The local Sikh community suffered a heavy loss as at least four of its members were killed and the wall of a gurdwara was damaged when Pakistan reportedly launched heavy shelling early Wednesday in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Eyewitnesses described the intensity of the bombardment as worse than during the 1999 Kargil War. Social media first reported that according to officials, Amreek Singh and Ranjit Singh—local shopkeepers—ex-army official Amarjeet Singh, and homemaker Ruby Kaur were killed instantly when a shell exploded near them, sending shockwaves through the community.

Meanwhile, the family of Mohammad Iqbal, who was killed in the shelling at Poonch, and who worked as a teacher at the Jamia Zia Ul Uloom has taken strong objection at news channels ABP News, Zee News and TV 18 for dubbing the slain victim as a ‘terrorist.’ They have urged the Poonch District Collector and the Poonch police to also initiate action, and have now been reported to have decided to initiate legal action against the errant channels themselves.

This is shameful by Indian News Channels. Qari Mohammad Iqbal from poonch, India was killed yesterday in shelling from Pakistan is being portrayed as a ‘terrorist’ in multiple national Indian news channels. pic.twitter.com/8yXkUaJswd

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 8, 2025

Qari Mohammad Iqbal was killed in Pakistani shelling in Poonch. He was a civilian. He worked as a teacher at Jamia Zia ul uloom, Poonch.

ABP news falsely reported that he was a terrorist killed by Indian airstrikes in POK.https://t.co/lPfnPDv53e pic.twitter.com/eJ7C20XguJ

— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) May 8, 2025

On May 7, the shelling took the roofs of Amreek Singh’s shop reducing it to rubble while the nearby gurudwara, Nangali Sahib was also struck during the shelling. Situated in the lap of a picturesque hill on the banks of the Drungali Nallah, it is situated about four kilometres from Poonch town and in Poonch distrct in the Jammu region. It is also recognised as one of the oldest shrines for the Sikhs in northern India.

Cowardly act by #Pakistanarmy !

Pakistan has targeted a Gurudwara sahib located in Poonch Kashmir.

Heartfelt condolences to the families of Bhai Amrik Singh Ragi, Amarjeet Singh (ex-Army personnel) & Ranjit Singh, a shopkeeper from #Poonch town, who were martyred in attack. pic.twitter.com/cxl4VvW9HN

— Jaspreet Kaur (@jaspreetsays) May 7, 2025

Amarjeet Singh (50), a devout Granthi who regularly performed Paath at the gurdwara is a former army person who, died in the shelling. He is survived by his wife, a son in Class 6, and a daughter. Amarjeet Singh also played the tabla at the gurdwara, while another victim, Amreek Singh, was a raagi who sang hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib at another gurdwara in Poonch. Both were killed at different locations.

Amreek Singh (39) also ran a small grocery shop below his house. He was the sole breadwinner of his family and is survived by two daughters and a son. He was with Ranjit Singh at Syndicate Chowk when a shell exploded in front of them, reported Indian Express. Both died on the spot. Amreek Singh had gone to open his shop. Meawnhile, Ruby Kaur (32), a homemaker, was killed in Mankote. She had three children, the youngest just a year and a half old.

The local Sikh population in Poonch, is estimated between 25,000 and 30,000, has been left shaken. “We have never witnessed such heavy shelling in Poonch before. We saw the Kargil war, but civilian establishments largely remained untouched. We thought we had learned to live under shelling. Today, that illusion was broken,” said Narinder Singh.

Following the incident, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, condemned the shelling. “The attack on Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and the loss of Sikh lives is not just an event—it is a blow to humanity,” he said. He has also called for diplomacy, Jathedar Gargaj urged both India and Pakistan to reduce tensions. “Both governments must act with wisdom, not weapons,” he said. “Since 1947, this conflict has caused suffering, including to Hindus and Sikhs near the border. How many more must pay for a conflict they did not create?” asked Gargaj. “War always devours the innocent. Peace is not weakness—it is the strength we must summon.”

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The post Poonch Victims: Civilians as targets of shelling appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On the intervening night between September 4 and 5, Pakistan defeated India in a cricket match. While any match between the two countries is known to stir passions of viewers on both sides of the border, this time, one dropped catch led to Arshdeep Singh, a Sikh player, being dubbed “Khalistani”.

The slur harked back to the Khalistan movement from the 1970s and 80s for a separate land for Sikhs. Thus, dubbing Singh a “Khalistani” was clearly an attempt to target his Sikh identity and vilify him by accusing him of harbouring anti-India sentiments.

In the 18^th over of the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup in Dubai, Singh failed to catch the ball when Pakistani cricketer Asif Ali hit a delivery by Ravi Bishnoi. India lost the match to Pakistan by five wickets.

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared screengrabs of the offensive accounts on Twitter:

One drop catch and….. ????#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/6lhFjkQ6wf

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 4, 2022

But then, as YouTuber Anshul Saxena revealed, it turns out many of the accounts calling Arshdeep Singh were also based out of Pakistan:

2) Accounts from Pakistan is running propaganda & fake news that Indian media channel ABP news is calling Arshdeep Singh a Khalistani.

They are making a narrative that people of India hate Sikhs. pic.twitter.com/0ZtyG9yIZK

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 4, 2022

6) Even this account is from Pakistan, calling Indian player Arshdeep Singh a Khalistani. pic.twitter.com/pqMbLZ7jQ3

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 4, 2022

Data privacy activist Saikiran Kannan too backed this theory that it was Pakistani accounts that caused the #Khalistani to trend in the wake of the dropped catch.

Out of this list;
The 1st handle is from USA who tweeted that
“This Arshdeep dude has to support Khalistan movement now, can’t go back to India after this”

The 2nd on the list is from Islamabad who tweeted that “the message is clear from Arshdeep Singh: KHALISTAN FOREVER!” pic.twitter.com/GHMbIXxrLX

— Saikiran Kannan | 赛基兰坎南 (@saikirankannan) September 5, 2022

But that wasn’t all, the word was also added to his Wikipedia page. An unregistered user reportedly replaced the words “India” with “Khalistan” at different places in the page, shortly after midnight. The user also changed the cricketer’s name on the page to Major Arshdeep Singh Langra. Now, Hindustan Times reports that the unregistered user’s IP address was based out of Pakistan, and allocated to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Pakistan’s national telecom provider. Deccan Herald reports that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy) has summoned Wikipedia executives in India to explain how such shocking edits were allowed to be made.  

Meanwhile, Arshdeep has also received a lot of support from fellow cricketers, politicians and ordinary citizens.

Stop criticising young @arshdeepsinghh No one drop the catch purposely..we are proud of our ?? boys .. Pakistan played better.. shame on such people who r putting our own guys down by saying cheap things on this platform bout arsh and team.. Arsh is GOLD??

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 4, 2022

We are 1st & foremost Indian. Hindu,Muslim,Sikh & Christians later. Sikhs are the most patriotic & nationalist community. To label @arshdeepsinghh Khalistani just because of a dropped catch is against the essence of our national psyche&spirit of sports.#IStandWithArshdeepSingh pic.twitter.com/PfJPoZPbkM

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 5, 2022

We are 1st & foremost Indian. Hindu,Muslim,Sikh & Christians later. Sikhs are the most patriotic & nationalist community. To label @arshdeepsinghh Khalistani just because of a dropped catch is against the essence of our national psyche&spirit of sports.#IStandWithArshdeepSingh pic.twitter.com/PfJPoZPbkM

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 5, 2022

चलो घटिया अंधभक्तों को जवाब दे करो RT #IStandWithArshdeepSingh

— Gurpreet Garry Walia (@_garrywalia) September 5, 2022

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The post Sikh cricket player dubbed “Khalistani” for dropping catch appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Amidst growing concern about the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the final polling for Uttar Pradesh, netizens caught a breath of fresh air, watching a viral video of India’s women cricket team interacting with Pakistan’s captain Bismah Maroof’s baby daughter.

Usually, the after-match moments of cricket matches show players either elated, dejected or quiet in a formal setting. However, on March 6, 2022, the women cricket teams, playing the starting match for the 2022 Women’s World Cup did things differently. Throwing the India-Pakistan rivalry for a toss, the sports persons gathered around Maroof’s daughter, cooing and gushing over the delightful little baby.

पाकिस्तान महिला क्रिकेट टीम की कप्तान बिस्माह मारूफ की बेटी को प्यार करतीं भारतीय क्रिकेटर. pic.twitter.com/pHsQSimtgU

— Awanish Sharan (@AwanishSharan) March 6, 2022

At a time when the right-wing trolls are peddling their divisive Hindu-Muslim agenda, and spreading false rumours of Pakistani terrorists, the video comes as a welcome break. The video also gave some more coverage to the women’s game wherein India beat Pakistan by 107 runs on Sunday in Mount Maunganui in New Zealand.

It also gave Maroof a chance to speak about the struggle for women cricketers. Speaking to Cricbuzz, she said women cricketers are hard pressed to avail luxuries like nannies, who can take care of their children during the match. Their contracts help them make a living but playing would have been difficult if not for the parental policy. Maroof voiced this fact two days before International Women’s Day.

According to Economic Times, Maroof is the first beneficiary to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s recently-framed policy offering 12 months paid leave and guaranteed contract extension to players. The 30-year-old has represented Pakistan in over 200 matches.

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The post Baby bowls over India, Pakistan cricket teams appeared first on SabrangIndia.

JUNE 1998: India under the National Democratic Alliance (I) government (under prime minister Vajpayee) followed by Pakistan (under Nawaz Sharif) entered into ‘the bottomless pit of nuclear rivalry.’ This piece authored by the late veteran peace activist, author and journalist, Praful Bidwai was Communalism Combat’s cover that month. We bring it to our readers now at Sabrangindia, with an accompanying piece by scientist, Zia Mian, to urge restraint and sanity in the region.

Nuclear weapons act like boomerangs on both India and Pakistan

For more than the one and a quarter billion people who live in South Asia, the world has been radically, horrifically, shockingly transformed. After the nuclear tests of India and Pakistan in May, they now live under the shadow of the Mushroom Cloud — that is, to put it bluntly, the threat of mass annihilation, unspeakable destruction, and epochal devastation. Unless India and Pakistan stop their descent into the bottomless pit of nuclear rivalry now, they will inflict unlimited damage upon their societies, states and, above all, their peoples.The bulk of the blame for this terrifying development must be squarely laid at the door of communalism. The nuclear obsession of a particular party was imposed upon a billion people on May 11, when the BJP–led minority government made a violent break with a policy with a 50–year–long continuity — of opposing nuclear deterrence and not exercising the nuclear weapons option. The BJP altered this radically, undemocratically, without the pretence of a strategic review, and without even the fig leaf of a security rationale.

The BJP’s decision to put India on the dangerous path of nuclearisation deeply offends all notions of civilised public conduct. It degrades, it does not enhance, India’s security. It has propelled us into a confrontation with our neighbours and lowered our global stature. India is the object of reprimand, reproach, and humiliating sanctions from the world community. Nuclearisation will promote the profoundly undemocratic values of militarism, secrecy, jingoism and male chauvinism. And it could prove economically ruinous. Most of all, it is fraught with unconscionably destructive human consequences.

Let us look at some of these on the basis of a scientific analysis. To start with, India and Pakistan are likelier to fight a nuclear war than the two rival blocs came close to at any point during the Cold War barring perhaps the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Even a limited exchange would result in the killing of lakhs of people in the two countries in ways that will make Genghis Khan look like an angel.

If a single nuclear weapon is exploded over a major city such as Bombay, Karachi, Lahore or Delhi, it could result in the death of up to 9,00,000 people, depending on factors such as population density, height of airbust and prevalent wind velocity. Apart from these early deaths, there would be hundreds of thousands of cancer and leukaemia victims due to radiation, besides a host of other serious illnesses and disorders. As Nikita Khrushchev once said: “The survivors would envy the dead”.

That is not all. The damage would be carried to a number of future generations. Some of the worst effects would be caused by plutonium–239, named after the God of Hell, and the most toxic substance known to science, which has a half–life of 24,400 years which means it will not decay fully for millions of years. A few millionths of a gram of plutonium, if ingested or inhaled, can cause cancers of the lung and the gastrointestinal tract over a period of time. The victims of a nuclear explosion would experience a series of effects.

Professor Karl Z. Morgan, former chairman of the International Commission for Radiological Protection, describes these as follows:

The first effect is an intense flux of photons from the blast, which releases 70 to 80 per cent of the bomb’s energy. The effects go up to third–degree thermal burns, and are not a pretty sight. Initial deaths are due to this effect.
The next phenomenon is the supersonic blast front. You see it before you hear it. The pressure front has the effect of blowing away anything in its path. Heavy steel girders were found bent at 90–degree angles after the Japanese bombings.

After the front comes the overpressure phase. This would feel like being under water at a few hundred metres’ depth. At a few thousand metres under the sea, even pressurised hulls implode. The pressure gradually dies off, and there is a negative overpressure phase, with a reversed blast wind. This reversal is due to air rushing back to fill the void left by the explosion. The air gradually returns to room pressure. At this stage, fires caused by electrical destruction and ignited debris, turn the whole area into a firestorm.

Then come the middle term effects such as cell damage and chromosomal aberrations. Genetic or hereditary damage can show up up to 40 years after initial irradiation. In a nuclear blast, with a crude, first–generation Hiroshima or Nagasaki–type bomb, everything within a radius of 0.8 km would be vaporised, with 98 per cent fatalities. There would be firestorms raging at a velocity of 500 kmph and an unbearable overpressure of 25 pounds per square inch. Within a radius of 1.6 km, all structures above ground would be totally destroyed, and the fatality rate would be 90 per cent.In the next concentric circle, with a radius of 3 km, there would be severe blast damage. All factories and large buildings would collapse, as would bridges and flyovers. Rivers would flow counter–current. Winds would blow at 400 kmph. The fatality rate would be 65 per cent.

Next comes severe heat damage within a radius of 4 km: everything flammable burns. People would suffocate because most of the available oxygen would be consumed by the fires. The likely wind velocities: 200 kmph. Likely fatalities: 50 per cent. Injuries: 45 per cent.

In the fifth zone, with a radius of 5 km, winds would blow at 150 kmph. People would be blown around. The fatality rate would be 15 per cent plus. Most survivors would sustain second– and third–degree burns. Residential structures would be severely damaged.

A huge electromagnetic pulse would be produced by the radio-radar portion of the multiple–wavelength discharge of radiation. The EMP effect increases the higher you go into the atmosphere. High–altitude explosions can knock out electronics by inducing a current surge in closed circuit metallic objects — computers, power lines, phone lines, TVs, radios, etc. The damage range can be over 1,000 km.

All these effects would be magnified roughly 25 times if a thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb with an explosive yield of one megaton is burst over an altitude of 8,000 ft (i.e. about 2,500 metres). India claims to have developed just such a bomb. If a 20 megaton device — which is not difficult to make once the thermonuclear technology is learnt — is used, the destruction would be roughly 100–fold greater.

After a nuclear blast, all water bodies within a radius of 100 to 300 km would be dangerously contaminated. As would all vegetation and the soil. Cattle would be so severely exposed to radiation that milk could not be consumed. Underground aquifers would remain polluted for years. Not just cities, but whole regions, comprising anything between five and 20 districts, would become wastelands.

Millions of people would be severely traumatised and will never be able to live normal, sane lives. Children would be the worst affected, with lasting physical and psychological damage, most of it irreversible.

In the South Asia context, a nuclear attack would have clear trans-border consequences. Bombing Lahore will amount to signing the death warrant for half of Amritsar’s population. Radioactive fallout from Jalandhar will not leave Pakistan’s Punjab unaffected. And Bombay’s bombing could have devastating effects in Sindh. Nuclear weapons will act like boomerangs on both India and Pakistan. Using them would tantamount to committing suicide.

Among the early casualties in a nuclear explosion would be the civil defence and medical infrastructure. As International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War say, First Aid would be reduced to Last Aid. There will be, can be, no defence against a nuclear bomb. These are not fanciful scare–mongering scenarios, but sober estimates based on hard–core physics and biology, developed by Nobel Prize–winning scientists and physicians. These estimates must be treated with the utmost seriousness and gravity.

The threat of megadeath today hangs over India and Pakistan. The very circumstance that a nuclear war between the two is possible should alarm us all. But the situation may be even worse: an India–Pakistan nuclear exchange appears likelier than an East–West nuclear attack at any time during the Cold War except perhaps the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. This is not because Indian and Pakistani politicians and nuclear scientists are more irresponsible than those in America and the former USSR. It is more because South Asia is the only part of the world which has experienced a relentless hot-cold war over 50 years. It bristles with mutual hatreds, suspicions and hostility on so many counts that any of them could turn into a flashpoint — the Kashmir Valley, the border dispute in the eastern sector, military exercises getting out of hand, as happened in 1987 under Gen. K. Sundarji.

The very fact that the two states continue to sacrifice hundreds of men in fighting an insane war at Siachen — the world’s highest–altitude conflict, where it costs Rs.1.5 lakh to reach one chapati to a soldier — speaks of the profound irrationality that mark their relations. And today, their politicians are actually talking about using nuclear weapons — witness Dr Farooq Abdullah’s statement of June 8. Equally worrisome is the likelihood that both are working on battlefield-level tactful nuclear weapons.(Hence the sub–kiloton tests). These considerably lower the danger threshold.

There is, besides, the horrific likelihood of accidental, unauthorised or unintentional use of nuclear weapons. This is not some fantasy, but a real possibility. More than 100 such incidents occurred during the Cold War in spite of scores of confidence-building measures and precautionary procedures adopted by the two warring blocs. These included multiple hot lines, permissive action links (PALs, which are computer chips with codes for authorisation), early warning systems, false alarm filters, efficient radars and expensive control and communications systems.

A Brookings Institution study says that it was sheer luck, not nuclear deterrence, or fear of unacceptable damage that prevented a nuclear war between the two blocs.

At the height of the Cold War, the lag time between the NATO and Warsaw Pact was never less than 30 minutes. Their strategic missiles would take that long to reach their targets. In the case of India and Pakistan, the missile flight–time would be just two to three minutes — grossly inadequate to take remedial action or activate war–prevention procedures. And given that virtually no interception of missiles is possible, a nuclear warhead could almost certainly be delivered across the border before there is time to react — with devastating results.

Nuclear weapons and missiles are highly complex systems with strong coupling between different subsystems and processes and hence a high chance of accidents. There is no way that their accidental or unauthorised use can be reliably prevented. There is, besides, the real possibility of a group of overzealous officers launching an attack on the “enemy” on their own. Pakistan, for instance, has had a series of army coup attempts by Islamic fanatics. If they have access to nuclear weapons, they could play havoc.

You just cannot take chances with nuclear weapons. They are too destructive to be left with even an infinitesimally low chance of use. That is why they must never be made, leave alone deployed, especially in this subcontinent where the two governments are working up bestial responses to one another and indulging in open war–mongering.

All of us citizens who do not wish to be roasted to death and turned into radioactive dust must act to prevent nuclear weapons from being made or deployed. This is too important a task to be entrusted to governments, least of all governments led by recklessly irresponsible fanatics and bigots. We must act by building a citizens’ movement that mounts pressure on our government to stop in its tracks and get them to retrace steps.

They must commit themselves never to test again, and drop all plans to make nuclear weapons, leave alone think of using them or threatening to use them under any circumstances.
We must act NOW. Or it could soon be too late.

Archived from Communalism Combat, June 1998, Cover Story

The post Bombing Lahore will kill lakhs in Amritsar, too appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Issued on 26th of February 2019 from Lahore and New Delhi (also Mumbai, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Jammu, Bhubaneshwar & Srinagar):

We, the members of Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD), from India and Pakistan, notes with seriousness and strongly condemns the claims of Indian government of air strikes and bombing in settled districts of Pakistan beyond LoC. It demands both governments of Indian & Pakistan to show restraint and avoid any war like situation. It further demands immediate measures from both sides to de-escalate the situation and de-militarize borders by withdrawing troops to the peace time level. 

PIPFPD, from India and Pakistan unequivocally condemn the massacre of more than 45 CRPF personnel, at Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir. We are also appalled at the large-scale killings of the police, army personnel, civilians and members of non-state armed groups, in diverse instances that followed Pulwama killings. We are shocked and pained at the number of human lives that is lost to guns, IEDs, missiles, bombs, pellet guns, stones, etc. in the Kashmir valley—especially in the increased instances over the last few years, since 2016.

Members of PIPFPD, from both countries, are deeply concerned about the situation arising because of the escalation of violence. Forum takes serious note of the high emotional outpouring and war mongering on both sides further giving rise to fundamentalists and extremists elements. It is perturbed about the increasing incidents of violence and vindictive action against Kashmiris in particular and Muslims in general by state and non-state actors in India. Ironically, despite a very delayed mention by the PM of India, senior members of the Indian government have not shown any meaningful or strong signs of restrain or resolve to discourage such violent elements and occurrences.

The Forum recognizes that failed policies of both India and Pakistan in addressing Kashmir issue is at the core of the problem. It has led to militarized means being prioritized over political dialogue and resolution. This has led to continuous loss of lives and has created war like situation in both civilians’ areas as well as border areas. A large number of lives have already been lost to this. PIPFPD believes in political resolution through dialogue and demands the governments of India and Pakistan to initiate meaningful dialogue involving Kashmiri leadership from both sides, addressing the issue bilaterally. The Forum believes that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between two states. India and Pakistan must recognise Kashmiri people’s aspirations and must allow Kashmiri people belonging to all ethnic and religious communities and regions to participate in a dialogue to find an honorable and a dignified solution. Till that dialogue happens, a ceasefire based peace process must be initiated to prevent future loss of lives. For this, it is imperative that Kashmir on both sides shall be demilitarised, providing opportunity to Kashmiris from both sides of the border to meet freely and start their life free of fear and subjugation.  

The Forum demands government of Pakistan to move beyond rhetoric of anti-extremism narrative to meaningful and substantive actions against all proscribed groups, terrorist organizations and their handlers. Ironically while those organizations have been taking responsibilities of such acts of terror, including Pulwama suicide attack, Pakistan government has shown no will to take necessary actions against those forces operating from its soil.  The members of PIPFPD demand that all genuine concerns raised by government of India must be taken seriously and investigated at the highest levels. This is the time that both states must move beyond rhetoric and show clear and unfettered resolve against extremism be it the Islamic armed outfits or the Hindutva ones.

It in this backdrop and unfortunate reality that PIPFPD announces the postponement of 9th Joint Convention that was to be held from 15-17th March 2019 in Lahore, Pakistan. We believe holding of this convention is not possible in the current circumstances, where peace activists are threatened and space for people to people dialogue is highly squeezed. Members of PIPFPD are determined to hold the convention in coming months.

[PIPFPD is a 25 year-old membership based peace platform with thousands of members and supporters in India and Pakistan. It has so far held 8 Joint Conventions in India and Pakistan, with hundreds of delegates from both countries participating]
Issued by: Mohammad TahseenConvener, PIPFPD Pakistan
Dr. I. A. Rehman Chairperson, PIPFPD Pakistan
Tapan Bose & Dr. Syeda HameedCo-Chairpersons, PIPFPD India
Vijayan MJGeneral Secretary, PIPFPD India 
Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracypipfpd@hotmail,.com (Pakistan) pipfpd.india@gmail.com (India)+92 3008480821 / +91 9868165471
 

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