UK Sikh military team visits Pakistan, sparks row

New Delhi, July 8

Indian intelligence agencies have alerted the security establishment about the visit of a delegation of 12 Sikh soldiers of the British Army to Pakistan under the aegis of the Defence Sikhs Network (DSN).

The DSN in June this year made comments with regard to Operation Bluestar and posted a graphic representation of the Army operation on its Instagram page. The delegation visited Pakistan on June 28 on the invitation of Pakistani Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.

The Pakistani army reportedly used the Sikh delegation to show that it was open to all religious communities whereas in reality Sikhs and Hindus were facing hate crimes. The establishment has been apprised about implications of the visit in the backdrop of social media post on Operation Bluestar. — TNS

‘Views personal’

A spokesperson of the British High Commission in New Delhi said: “The visit was an opportunity for delegation members to visit places of historical and religious significance. Personal views of army personnel do not necessarily represent views of the Defence Ministry.”