India vs Pakistan: In the world’s largest democracy, the Indian Muslim identity continues to be unfairly burdened by the baggage of a geopolitical rivalry that spans over seven decades. While the India-Pakistan conflict is rooted in historical, political, and territorial disputes, it is the Indian Muslim who too often finds themselves caught in the crossfire—socially, politically, and psychologically.
The recent Pahalgam terror attack is a painful reminder of the persistent threats India faces from cross-border terrorism. Nine lives were lost, and as the nation grieves, it also braces for the inevitable: yet another round of misplaced suspicion and collective blame directed at Indian Muslims.
Within hours of the attack, certain media panels and online narratives shifted focus—not just toward Pakistan, but subtly and sometimes overtly toward Muslims in India. The unspoken implication: that they are somehow connected, responsible, or sympathetic. No evidence. Just identity.
As Operation Sindoor unfolds in Kashmir with surgical precision and national resolve, we must also confront a parallel issue on the mainland—the psychological operation that repeatedly paints Indian Muslims as suspects instead of citizens. Their patriotism is questioned. Their right to mourn or remain silent is policed. They are forced to clarify, again and again, that they stand with India.
The irony is brutal. Indian Muslims stayed back in 1947, choosing this country as their home. They are not foreigners. They are not fence-sitters. And yet, during moments of national crisis, they are often seen as the “other.” Their mosques are watched, Their neighborhoods are shadowed by suspicion. Their voices are either demanded for condemnation or dismissed when they speak up.
This isn’t just casual discrimination—it’s systemic. Muslim representation in policymaking, media, and corporate leadership remains disproportionately low. And in times like these, rhetoric from political and social quarters dangerously flirts with collective blame, eroding the very fabric of our democracy.
What’s worse is how this manufactured mistrust weakens India from within. A nation cannot claim strength if it distrusts 200 million of its own people. Patriotism cannot be performative, and citizenship cannot be conditional on religion. When Indian Muslims are told to ‘go to Pakistan’ every time there’s a cross-border conflict, we must ask: who is really dividing the nation?
Indian Muslims have fought for India, bled for it, built it, and prayed for its peace. From soldiers on the front lines to scientists, artists, and teachers—they are India. Holding them responsible for the actions of another country is not just unfair—it’s dangerous and intellectually lazy.
This cycle must end. Pahalgam deserves justice. India deserves unity. And Indian Muslims deserve dignity, not doubt.
True national strength comes not from exclusion, but from solidarity.
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