New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday (November 23) told a Sindhi community gathering that "borders can change" and "Sindh may return to India again". Further, he asserted that Sindh remains deeply embedded in the country’s cultural identity while blaming earlier governments for not giving minorities in the neighbouring countries "the rights they needed".

“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,” Singh was quoted as saying by The Hindu during the Sindh Samaj Sammelan in New Delhi.

Singh referred to the writings of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran L.K. Advani to highlight the anguish experienced by Sindhi Hindus during Partition, noting that many from that generation never accepted Sindh’s separation. Quoting Advani, he said the Indus (Sindhu) River was regarded as sacred by Hindus across India and held in equal reverence by many Muslims in Sindh, who viewed its waters as comparable to the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca.

Linking his remarks to the national anthem, he highlighted the continued resonance of the words “Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha”. He noted that the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision that upheld the inclusion of “Sindh” was evidence of the region’s lasting civilisational and cultural significance irrespective of the current boundaries, The Hindu reported.

In his speech, Singh also focused extensively on the atrocities faced by minorities in neighbouring countries, asserting that these communities have experienced violence, coercive religious conversions, and displacement. He criticised earlier governments for what he described as “appeasement-seeking” policies that failed to adequately support these groups. According to him, “Those who truly deserved compassion were not given the rights they needed.”

Referring specifically to Hindu migrants from Pakistan and other neighbouring states, he said the current government had allowed those who faced persecution to stay in India without passports until 2024, which he described as enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity.

While Singh criticised the Congress leadership for disregarding the safety concerns of Sindhi Hindus and discouraging their relocation to India during Partition, he praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for helping Sindhi Hindus during the turbulent years after Partition, including by offering self-defence training.

Following Singh’s remarks, Pakistan issued a response, urging Indian leaders to avoid statements that could heighten regional tensions. The statement said, “We urge Mr Rajnath Singh and other Indian leaders to refrain from provocative rhetoric that threatens regional peace and stability. It would be far more constructive for the Government of India to focus on ensuring the security of its own citizens, particularly vulnerable minority communities.”

Pakistan also called on India to take meaningful steps toward resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the region’s people. Reaffirming its position, Islamabad stated that it remains committed to peaceful dispute resolution under international law while asserting its determination to protect its security, sovereignty, and independence.

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