Has India Taken a Stand Against Pakistan’s Attack on Religious Sites?

Synopsis
In a shocking escalation, India has condemned Pakistan for its deliberate attack on religious sites amid ongoing hostilities. This marks a troubling new low in the region's conflicts. Discover the details of these incidents and India's firm response.
Key Takeaways
- India condemns Pakistan for targeting religious sites.
- Recent shelling resulted in civilian casualties in Poonch.
- Pakistan's actions contradict its claims of not targeting religious places.
- India vows to take decisive action against such provocations.
- The international community must advocate for peace and respect for all religions.
New Delhi, May 9 (NationPress) Amidst ongoing heavy mortar bombardments from Pakistani forces on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC), India condemned Islamabad for deliberately targeting religious sites, calling it a new low even for Pakistan.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “We have witnessed the Pakistani side specifically shelling places of worship, including gurdwaras, churches, and temples. This behavior marks a new low even for Pakistan,” during a media briefing regarding Operation Sindoor in New Delhi.
Misri drew attention to the Pakistani Army's assault on a Gurdwara in Poonch, which resulted in the tragic deaths of local Sikh community members, including the Gurdwara's Ragi. He also highlighted attacks on Christian schools, contradicting Pakistan's claims of sparing religious sites.
“We possess information regarding this extremely regrettable and condemnable incident. On May 7, a shell from Pakistan landed near the Christ School operated by the Carmelites of the Mary Immaculate Congregation in Poonch. Unfortunately, this shell claimed the lives of two students and severely injured their parents,” he elaborated.
Another shell hit a Christian Convent of Nuns belonging to the Congregation of Mother of Carmel, damaging water tanks and solar panel systems. During the shelling, numerous priests, nuns, school staff, and local residents sought refuge in an underground hall beneath the school. Fortunately, the school was closed at that time, averting even greater losses,” the Foreign Secretary detailed.
The Indian Army condemned the killing of innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, promising that such heinous attacks would be met with decisive and punitive measures.
Pakistan's provocative and escalatory actions persisted on Thursday night as it targeted Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military sites.
Misri remarked on Friday, “The official and blatantly farcical denial of these attacks by Pakistan's state machinery exemplifies their duplicity and the new depths they are sinking to in their quest for disinformation.”