New Delhi – India today strongly condemned Pakistan’s deliberate targeting of religious places during recent cross-border shelling and attacks, labeling it a “new low even for Pakistan.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) detailed instances of attacks on Gurdwaras, convents, and temples, indicating a concerning pattern and a deliberate design to incite communal discord.
During a press briefing, the MEA spokesperson, with information provided by Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, highlighted several deeply regrettable and condemnable incidents. One particularly tragic event occurred on the morning of May 7th during heavy shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch area.
A shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School, which is run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Congregation in Poonch. Tragically, this shell struck the home of two students of the Christ School, resulting in the unfortunate loss of both their lives. Their parents were also severely injured in the attack.
In another incident, a separate Pakistani shell struck a Christian convent belonging to the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. While there were no fatalities in this instance, the shelling caused damage to water tanks and destroyed solar panel infrastructure at the convent.
The spokesperson noted that during the shelling by Pakistan, several priests, nuns, school staff, and local residents were forced to take refuge in an underground hall beneath the Christ School for safety. Fortunately, the school happened to be closed at the time of the attack; otherwise, the MEA stated, more losses would likely have occurred.
These incidents, coupled with an attack on a Gurdwara in Poonch mentioned previously, demonstrate a disturbing trend. The MEA spokesperson explicitly stated, “We have seen the Pakistani side targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design. This includes gurdwaras, these convents and temples.”
This targeting of religious sites is seen by India as a deliberate attempt by Pakistan to impart a communal hue to the situation and create discord within India. The spokesperson referenced Pakistan’s history of disinformation and its desperate attempts to disown its acts of aggression, including making “preposterous and outrageous claims” that India was targeting its own cities and trying to blame Pakistan.
The attack on the Gurdwara in Poonch specifically resulted in the loss of lives of local members of the Sikh community, including the Ragi of the Gurdwara. The MEA firmly refuted Pakistan’s disinformation about India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it a “blatant lie” and part of their ongoing campaign.
By deliberately attacking places of worship across different faiths, Pakistan appears to be employing a tactic aimed at escalating tensions along communal lines. India views this as a particularly reprehensible tactic and a significant departure from accepted norms, constituting a “new low” in Pakistan’s conduct. India’s steadfast unity, the spokesperson added, remains a challenge to Pakistan’s divisive tactics.
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