ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned the demolition of an ancient mosque in the Indian state of Haryana, and called on the United Nations (UN), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other human rights organizations, to hold India “accountable.”
Indian authorities razed Bilal Masjid in Haryana’s Faridabad area earlier this week. Pictures and videos purportedly showing the demolition operation were widely circulated on social media, with heavy machinery seen tearing down the building.
Attacks on members of religious and ethnic minorities and their places of worship have become frequent in India, whose government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is accused of discriminating against the minority community in the Hindu-majority country. Modi denies the charge.
“Pakistan strongly condemns unjust demolition of Bilal Mosque in Haryana by Indian authorities, in consort with pliant judiciary under Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh regime,” Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, a spokesperson of the Pakistani Foreign Office, said in a statement, referring to the ruling party of India.
“The Hindutva driven BJP-RSS combine’s perpetual targeting of Muslims and their places of worship is indelible blot on the so-called ‘largest democracy’.”
The statement also recalled the Indian Supreme Court’s November 2019 judgment that allowed the construction of Ram Mandir at the site of the historic the 16th-century Babri Mosque, demolished in 1992 by Hindu mobs, triggering riots in which about 2,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed across India.
Court battles over the ownership of the site followed, ending in 1992 when the court awarded the bitterly contested religious site to Hindus.
“The Indian judiciary was also culpable in acquitting the criminals who had organized the destruction of the Babri Masjid in public glare,” the Pakistani statement said.
Muslims and their places of worship were attacked “with state complicity” during anti-Muslim pogroms in Gujarat and New Delhi in February 2020, it said.
The Pakistani foreign office also urged the international community, particularly the UN, OIC and other rights organizations, to “hold India accountable for systematic human rights violations of minorities, especially Muslims.”
Pakistan condemns demolition of ancient mosque, calls on UN, OIC to hold India ‘accountable’
https://arab.news/c53cs
Pakistan condemns demolition of ancient mosque, calls on UN, OIC to hold India ‘accountable’
- Indian authorities demolished ancient Bilal Masjid in Haryana’s Faridabad area earlier this week
- Foreign office says India’s targeting of Muslims "indelible blot on the so-called ‘largest democracy’"
Saudi Arabia, US, Türkiye condemn separatist attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan
- Kingdom says it stands with Pakistan as security forces kill 133 militants in counteroffensive this week
- Attacks hit multiple districts including Quetta and Gwadar, killing civilians and security personnel
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia, US, Türkiye and Qatar this week condemned separatist attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, expressing solidarity with Islamabad after a wave of coordinated violence killed civilians and security personnel across multiple districts.
In a statement cited by the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, the Kingdom said it rejected violence in all its forms and stood with Pakistan as its security forces responded to the attacks.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the attacks carried out by separatist elements in various areas of Pakistan’s Balochistan province,” he said in a social media message on Saturday.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia renews its firm position rejecting all acts of terrorism and extremism.”
Pakistan’s military said on Saturday its forces killed 92 militants, including three suicide bombers, while repelling coordinated attacks across the southwestern province, following assaults that targeted civilians and law enforcement personnel in several towns, including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung and Kharan.
The military said it had killed 41 militants on Friday in separate operations in Panjgur and Harnai, bringing the total number of militants killed in the past two days to 133.
The military said 18 civilians, including women and children, were killed in attacks on laborer families in Gwadar and Kharan, while 15 security personnel died during clearance operations and armed standoffs.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, reaffirming its support for Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard stability and security.
US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker also condemned the attacks in a statement shared by the US embassy on Sunday.
“The United States remains a steadfast partner of Pakistan in its efforts to ensure peace and stability. We stand in solidarity with Pakistan during this difficult time,” Baker was quoted as saying.
The Turkish foreign ministry also condemned the attacks and prayed for the souls of the soldiers who were killed.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks as well and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar’s firm position rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts in all forms, regardless of their motives or justifications.”
https://x.com/MofaQatar_EN/status/2017643162211438683
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has faced a decades-long separatist insurgency marked by attacks on security forces, infrastructure projects and civilians, as Pakistan steps up counter-militancy operations in the region.
