The Indian government on Saturday rejected Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s comments on the demolition of historic Islamic sites in India, with the Ministry of External Affairs terming the comments a “deliberate political attack” driven by Pakistan’s policies of intolerance and hatred.
Zardari had said in a social media post that India must immediately stop such actions and protect the rights of minorities and the common cultural heritage of the two countries.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to Zardari’s comments by saying that India “categorically rejects the unwarranted comments made by the Pakistani President.”
“He has, however, no right to comment on India’s internal matters,” Jaiswal added.
He noted that Zardari’s comments were “particularly ridiculous given Pakistan’s poor human rights record, something that has received international comment.” He added, “Pakistan’s long history of systematically targeting and victimizing minorities in various religions is notorious.”
“Given this reality, the president’s statements can only be read as a deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan’s national policies of intolerance and hatred,” Jaiswal said.
A social media post from the Pakistani president’s office said that Zardari “expressed deep concern over the demolitions and threats to historic Islamic religious sites in India, including the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque in Varanasi.”
Zardari asked India to “immediately stop such actions, warning that they may lead to disintegration and permanent chaos in India.” He also called for “protecting minority rights and common cultural heritage.”
