Internal Clash Leaves Five Soldiers Dead, High-Ranking Sikh Officer Arrested

Kashmir 2 May 2025 (Anil Kumar ) :-In a shocking turn of events, India’s planned military offensive against Pakistan has been indefinitely postponed following a rebellion within the Indian Army, particularly among soldiers of the Sikh Regiment. The unrest, which erupted in the wake of heightened tensions after the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 Hindu tourists, has exposed deep fractures within the military.Sources reveal that Sikh soldiers, part of the highly decorated Sikh Regiment, refused to participate in combat operations against Pakistan, citing grievances over the government’s handling of religious and regional issues. The rebellion reached a tragic climax during a disciplinary hearing at an army base in northern India, where tensions between Sikh and Hindu soldiers boiled over. According to unverified reports, the Sikh soldiers demanded that any military action be restricted to the Gujarat border, sparing Punjab—a state with a significant Sikh population and a history of sensitivity to India-Pakistan conflicts due to its proximity to the border.The argument escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of five unarmed Sikh soldiers, allegedly shot by fellow troops. The incident has sent shockwaves through the military establishment, with the government yet to issue an official statement, raising concerns of a deliberate suppression of the news. Adding to the controversy, a high-ranking Sikh officer, believed to have been sympathetic to the dissenting soldiers, has reportedly been arrested.The Pahalgam attack had already inflamed tensions between India and Pakistan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi granting the military “operational freedom” to retaliate against Pakistan, whom India accuses of supporting the militants—a charge Islamabad denies. The government’s subsequent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty had further escalated the situation, prompting Pakistan to warn of treating any disruption of cross-border rivers as an “act of war.”However, the internal crisis within the army has forced the government to halt the planned offensive. High-level meetings involving military and security officials are underway to address the growing unrest and restore cohesion within the ranks. The rebellion highlights broader discontent with the government’s policies, particularly among minority communities, amid rising anti-Muslim sentiment and violence against Kashmiri Muslims following the Pahalgam attack.As India grapples with this unprecedented challenge, the stability of its armed forces and the future of India-Pakistan relations hang in the balance.