Sindh may one day become part of India again, says Rajnath Singh

The province, adjacent to the Indus River, became part of Pakistan during the 1947 Partition. The majority of its Hindu inhabitants then migrated to India

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks at a conference in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says that though the Sindh region of Pakistan may not be part of India now, borders can change.

The “explosive” comment was made at an event on Sunday, according to the Indian media.

The Sindh province, adjacent to the Indus River, became part of Pakistan during the 1947 Partition. The majority of its Hindu inhabitants – known as “Sindhis” -- then migrated to India.

"I'd also like to mention (Sindhi leader) Lal Krishna Advani here. He wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven't accepted the separation of Sindh from India,” Rajnath said, referring to that history, according to The Indian Express.

“Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus considered the Indus River sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Makkah. This is Advani's quote.”

Rajnath said, "...Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again... Our people of Sindh, who hold the Indus River sacred, will always be our own. No matter where they are, they will always be ours."

Pakistan has described Rajnath’s remarks as "untrue, provocative and dangerous". They have also urged Indian ministers to avoid comments that could escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

On the other hand, the Indian defence minister’s remarks were welcomed by Shafi Burfat, leader of the separatist group Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM). The party is banned in Pakistan.

Burfat called the statement "historic, inspiring and motivational" for Sindhis and that they have created hope for the independence of Sindh and for closer ties with India in the future.

On Sept 22, while speaking to the Indian community in Morocco, Rajnath had said that residents of the Pakistan-held portion of Jammu-Kashmir sought freedom from their “occupiers”, and said he believed that this region would become part of India once again without any aggressive action.

"PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering," he said.