Mika Singh challenges negative perceptions of Pakistani Muslims

Indian singer and rapper Mika Singh has questioned why Pakistani Muslims are often viewed negatively by some Indians, while Muslims living in Dubai are generally perceived more positively. Speaking in a recent interview, Singh discussed his connection with Pakistan and recalled his experiences with Muslims there, including those who helped maintain Sikh gurdwaras. He questioned why people appeared to make distinctions between Muslims based on where they were from. “Muslims from anywhere are not bad. I don't know why we only see Muslims from Pakistan as bad, but like Dubai's Muslims," he said. He added: “I still don't get it.”         View this post on Instagram                       Singh also stressed that he did not believe Pakistanis were inherently bad, recalling the warmth and hospitality he experienced during his visit to the country. "The reason I like Pakistan so much is due to an emotional story. Therre is Guru Nanak's Gudwara there. There is Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib. There are three very big Gudwara's there," he said. He continued, "Whenever I get the moment, I always speak positively on Pakistan." The rapper also emphasised that, like many others, he had no issue with Pakistani singers performing in India. "Whenever someone comes, everyone in our industry has so many problems but I have no issues. I have always gotten respect from them," he said.         View this post on Instagram                         Singh's comments have prompted discussion online, with some commenters agreeing with his broader point that perceptions of Pakistanis and Pakistani Muslims can be influenced by the long and complicated history between India and Pakistan. Others pointed to politics and the way India-Pakistan tensions are discussed publicly, arguing that political narratives can shape how ordinary people view communities across the border. "That's how politicians have played it," one user wrote, while another added, "Politicians spread hate and lies against Pakistan that the British started when they left."   The singer's remarks come amid a wider conversation about Indian and Pakistani artistes, cross-border cultural exchanges and the distinction between individuals and political tensions between the two countries. By comparing perceptions of Pakistani and Dubai Muslims, Singh appeared to question whether people's views were sometimes shaped more by nationality, history and politics than by their individual experiences with people.