Mumbai, July 1 -- At a time when tensions between India and Pakistan continue to dominate headlines, a video of Indian singer Sara Gurpal performing a Pakistani drama song has gone viral. On paper, it looked like a wholesome cross-border music moment. In the comments, though, things went in a very different direction.

Sara performed "Meri Zindagi Hai Tu", the much-loved song from the Pakistani drama of the same name, during her appearance in the Indian singing reality show Voice of Punjab Master Champs. The track has a strong fan base, especially among Pakistani drama lovers, and is remembered for its emotional pull more than just its vocals.

But Sara's stage version did not land well with many listeners. Soon after the clip surfaced on...