Pakistan slams Indian claim of plot to target Golden Temple

Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected allegations made by a senior Indian military officer that Pakistan had planned to target the Golden Temple, calling the claim “completely baseless and false”.

Responding to media queries regarding the accusations, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan categorically rejected the “irresponsible and unfounded” remarks, terming them part of a deliberate campaign to malign Pakistan and divert attention from India’s own questionable actions.

“Such baseless allegations cannot and will not divert attention from India’s unacceptable act of targeting religious sites in Pakistan,” the spokesperson stated, referring to the incidents of May 6 and 7 when, according to Pakistan, places of worship were targeted by India.

The FO spokesperson underscored that Pakistan takes immense pride in being the custodian of numerous holy sites of Sikhism. “We host thousands of Sikh pilgrims from around the world each year and have facilitated visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur Corridor — a gesture that reflects our deep respect for religious freedoms and interfaith harmony.”

The spokesperson reiterated that the allegation of a planned attack on the Golden Temple was “not only false but also a reckless attempt to incite religious sentiments and sow discord.”