By Iftikhar Mashwani
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected Indian allegations that it attempted to target the Golden Temple through drone and missile attacks on the night of May 7-8.
In response to a media query regarding the claim made by a senior Indian army officer, the Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We categorically reject the allegations that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple, the most revered place in the Sikh faith.”
The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan respects all religious sites and would never consider attacking a place of worship.
“We hold all places of worship in the highest esteem and cannot think of targeting a holy site like the Golden Temple,” the statement said.
Referring to the night of May 6 and 7, when New Delhi launched barbaric attacks on Islamabad, the spokesperson said it was India that carried out strikes on various places of worship inside Pakistan.
“The allegations levelled by the Indian side cannot shift attention from this unacceptable act.”
The Foreign Office added that Pakistan is the proud custodian of several key Sikh religious sites and welcomes thousands of Sikh pilgrims annually, including through the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor.
“In that backdrop, any claim concerning Pakistan’s attempt to target the Golden Temple is absolutely baseless and incorrect,” the spokesperson concluded.
