New Delhi: India has strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding alleged threats to Muslim religious sites in the country, describing the remarks as unwarranted, absurd and politically motivated.
Responding to the statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters that are entirely internal to India. He reiterated New Delhi’s long-standing position that Islamabad should refrain from interfering in domestic issues concerning its neighbour.
India also highlighted what it described as Pakistan’s poor human rights record, arguing that the criticism was particularly misplaced given concerns frequently raised by international observers regarding the treatment of minority communities in the country.
The response further pointed to allegations of discrimination and violence faced by religious minorities in Pakistan over the years. Issues concerning the treatment of Hindu, Ahmadiyya and other minority communities have regularly drawn attention from international human rights groups and advocacy organisations.
According to New Delhi, the comments from the Pakistani President appeared to be a deliberate political attack rather than a genuine expression of concern. Indian officials argued that such statements reflected longstanding policies of intolerance and hostility rather than an objective assessment of the situation.
The diplomatic exchange followed remarks made by President Zardari on social media regarding the alleged demolition threat to the historic Masjid Ganj Shaheeda in Varanasi and concerns over other Muslim religious sites in India.
India has consistently maintained that matters relating to its religious institutions, legal processes and internal governance fall exclusively within its domestic jurisdiction. Officials reiterated that Pakistan should focus on its own internal challenges rather than making observations on issues concerning India.
The latest war of words adds to the ongoing tensions between the two neighbours, with both countries continuing to exchange sharp statements on a range of political and diplomatic issues. However, New Delhi has remained firm in its position that external commentary on its internal affairs is unacceptable and unwarranted.
