Pakistan has firmly rejected India’s “false and politically motivated” claims about damage to a Hindu temple in Narowal. The Foreign Office clarified that the structure was damaged by heavy rains, not by any deliberate act.
FO Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan issued a clear statement on Friday. He said Pakistan categorically rejects the assertions made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding the temple at Adda Siraj in Narowal district. According to the spokesperson, the temple’s structure suffered damage on 21 July due to torrential rains. Local authorities have already surveyed the site and started the process of restoration.
Khan described India’s attempt to twist the facts as shameful. He said New Delhi was resorting to cheap political gimmicks instead of acknowledging the real cause of the damage. The spokesperson also pointed out that India cannot hide its own poor record on minority rights by spreading false narratives about Pakistan.
He stressed that the world knows about the growing use of Hindutva ideology against minorities in India. The FO called on the international community to hold Indian leadership accountable for the persecution of Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities.
Human rights groups and the United Nations have repeatedly noted a rise in attacks on minorities in India in recent years. Reports mention increasing hate speech, a citizenship law based on religion, demolition of Muslim properties, and restrictions on religious freedom. Claims that medieval mosques and Islamic-era monuments were built over Hindu temples have also gained momentum since 2014.
The FO response comes at a time when such narratives are being pushed more aggressively. Recent steps in India, including bans related to Eid and restrictions on prayer locations, have further raised concerns among minority communities.
Pakistan’s position remains clear. The damage to the Narowal temple was caused by natural weather conditions, and restoration work has already begun. Attempts to turn a rain-related incident into a political issue will not succeed.
