LAHORE, Nov 29: Sikh Muslim Federation president Sardar Manmohan Singh has said that a strong Pakistan is necessary for maintaining peace in the region.

Speaking at an Iftar-dinner hosted by the American Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee here on Friday, Sardar Manmohan said Hindus had driven a wedge between Muslims and Sikhs at the time of partition for promoting their nefarious designs. The Sikhs now understood the Hindu mentality, he added.

He said cooperation between Sikhs and Muslims was necessary for their mutual benefit and could help in the liberation of Kashmir and creation of Khalistan.

He said that Guru Nanak had also advised his followers to have good relations with Muslims.

American Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee coordinator Sardar Pritpal Singh said the Indian government discouraged Sikhs from visiting Pakistan to participate in their religious ceremonies at Nankana Sahib. American Sikhs had made the visit possible by taking up the matter with the US government.

He said that Sikhs and Muslims should cooperate in every field.

Former federal minister Dr Khalid Ranjha said cooperation between Sikhs and Muslims was a good omen.

He called upon Sikhs to establish business links with Lahore for strengthening the ties of friendship further.

Intellectual Ashfaq Ahmed said the relations between Sikhs and Muslims had remained strained in the past because of the fact that idolaters had played a significant role in driving a wedge between the followers of the two religions. Time had now come for the followers of the two religions to make amends for the past mistakes and normalise their relations. He said an American Sikh had laid the foundation for Sikh-Muslim cooperation when he sacrificed his life after being mistaken as a Muslim.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Hamid Khan said the government should offer maximum facilities to the Sikhs visiting Pakistan for participation in their religious ceremonies.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Farid Piracha said Islam was the religion of peace with a message of friendship with followers of other religions.

He called upon Sikhs to support the movement for independence of Kashmir.

Syed Sibtul Hasan Zaigham said Sikh-Muslim cooperation was the need of the hour.