'Absurd': India tears into Pak PM Asif Ali Zardari over remarks on Muslim sites
India has strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding alleged threats to Muslim religious sites in the country, describing them as "unwarranted", "absurd" and a politically motivated attack.
Responding to the remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan has no authority to comment on India's internal affairs and accused Islamabad of attempting to divert attention from its own human rights record.
'No locus standi' to comment on India's internal matters
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects the Pakistani President's observations and reiterated that Islamabad has no role in matters that fall within India's domestic jurisdiction.
"India categorically rejects the unwarranted comments made by the President of Pakistan. He has, in any case, no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India," Jaiswal said.
The remarks came in response to Zardari's comments on social media concerning an alleged demolition threat to the historic Masjid Ganj Shaheeda in Varanasi and other Muslim sites across India.
India highlights Pakistan's human rights record
The foreign ministry also hit back by pointing to Pakistan's own record on human rights and the treatment of religious minorities.
"These comments are particularly absurd given Pakistan's own abysmal record on human rights, which is a matter of global commentary. Pakistan's long history of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths is notorious," Jaiswal said.
Rights groups and international watchdogs have repeatedly raised concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, including Hindus, Christians and members of the Ahmadiyya community. Reports have also highlighted incidents of blasphemy-related violence and discrimination against minority groups.
'Political attack driven by bigotry and hatred'
Concluding the government's response, Jaiswal said Zardari's comments appeared to be part of a broader political narrative rooted in intolerance.
"Given this reality, the President's remarks can only be read as a deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan's national policies of bigotry and hatred," he said.
India reiterates long-standing position
India has consistently maintained that Pakistan should refrain from commenting on its domestic issues and has repeatedly dismissed similar statements from Islamabad in the past.
The latest exchange adds to the continuing diplomatic sparring between the two neighbours, with New Delhi reiterating that matters concerning India's internal affairs are not open to external commentary.
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