Indian singer Mika Singh has reflected on his 2019 visit to Pakistan and spoken openly about India-Pakistan relations and attitudes toward Pakistani people.
During a podcast appearance, the 50-year-old singer said he has never understood why some people in India view Pakistani Muslims negatively while having a more favorable attitude toward Muslims in Dubai.
Mika Singh recalled receiving considerable love and hospitality from people during his visit to Pakistan. He said the people he met there were welcoming and that he even saw Muslims helping maintain and clean Sikh holy sites at gurdwaras.
The singer said his experience made him realize that Pakistan and its people should not be viewed negatively simply on the basis of religion or nationality.
Mika questioned the apparent contradiction, saying he could not understand why some Indians would dislike Pakistani Muslims while considering Muslims in Dubai to be good people.
When asked about Indian and Pakistani artists working together, including Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani performers, Mika said he had no objection to Pakistani singers performing in India. He also defended Indian artists who perform in Pakistan, arguing that they should not face unnecessary criticism.
He said Pakistani artists should be respected when they visit India and that Bollywood has welcomed Pakistani singers. Similarly, he said people should appreciate it when Pakistani audiences show respect to Indian performers.
Mika also mentioned Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib, saying the presence of these Sikh holy sites gives Pakistan deep religious and emotional significance for him. He recalled that when he was invited to perform in Pakistan, his priority was not the payment but gaining access to the gurdwara.
The singer clarified that he had traveled to Pakistan openly with a valid visa before the Uri attack and said his visit and performance should not be portrayed as a political act.
Mika Singh’s 2019 visit to Pakistan had previously sparked controversy in India. After performing at a wedding in Karachi in August that year, he faced a boycott from sections of the Indian film industry. He later apologized at a press conference on August 21, 2019, following which the restrictions against him were lifted.