India on Wednesday, 1 July strongly condemned the demolition of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan, calling it a 'highly deplorable' and 'targeted act of vandalism' against a revered Sikh shrine. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) demanded that Pakistan investigate the incident, restore the demolished structure, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

What the MEA Said

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India had taken note of 'deeply distressing' reports surrounding the shrine's destruction, expressing grave concern over the apparent inaction by local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

'We strongly condemn this highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism against a revered Sikh shrine. Its destruction, along with reports of no meaningful action being taken by local authorities or the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), is a matter of grave concern,' Jaiswal said.

He further described the demolition as part of a pattern, adding: 'This is unfortunately not an isolated incident, as we have also seen similar reports earlier. The systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated.'

India's Demands from Pakistan

New Delhi urged Islamabad to take immediate steps on multiple fronts. The MEA called for expeditious investigation, accountability for those responsible, and reconstruction of the demolished portions of the gurdwara at the earliest.

The MEA also pressed Pakistan to 'discharge its obligations to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship, and put a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance.'

A Pattern of Violence Against Minorities

The condemnation follows a string of incidents targeting religious minorities in Pakistan. Last month, unidentified assailants reportedly opened fire inside a gurdwara in the Babu Mohalla Khawaja Ganj Bazaar area of Mardan, killing 70-year-old Jagannath and his wife, who were reportedly serving as caretakers of the shrine. The attackers fled the scene.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned that killing, raising concerns about the circumstances in which the attack occurred — particularly reports that the alleged assailant had previously been engaged to provide security at the site. The HRCP also questioned the Mardan District Police Officer's early assertion linking the incident to a personal vendetta, noting it was unclear on what basis such a motive could be established at the preliminary stage of investigation.

Rights Groups Sound the Alarm

Minority rights organisation Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) described the Mardan killings as an assault on the 'fragile promise of safety for religious minorities in Pakistan.' The group drew a direct line from the Peshawar violence in 2022 to the Mardan attack, identifying a recurring pattern: 'minority victims, unguarded religious spaces, unidentified assailants, and investigations that rarely deliver justice.'

The VOPM called on Pakistani authorities to ensure all possible lines of inquiry are examined and that those responsible are held accountable under the law. This comes amid broader international scrutiny of Pakistan's record on minority protections, particularly concerning Sikh, Hindu, and Christian communities.

What Happens Next

India's formal diplomatic statement raises the stakes for Pakistan to demonstrate a credible response. With the ETPB — the body mandated to protect minority religious properties — already facing criticism for inaction, pressure is mounting on Islamabad to enforce existing legal protections, including the 2014 Supreme Court judgment on the protection of religious minorities. Whether Pakistan takes any verifiable action will be closely watched by New Delhi and international human rights observers alike.