UNITED NATIONS – Pakistan has highlighted the threat posed bystate-sponsored extremist Hindu groups to thousands of Islamic monuments inIndia, and called for including those religious shrines on the U.N.’sRoster of Religious Sites.
Speaking at the launch of UN programme on protection of religious sitesfrom terrorist attacks, Ambassador Munir Akram described as “mostdangerous” the threat posed by state-sponsored violent nationalistideologies and movements.
“Their programme is to eliminate the heritage and legacy of Islam in Indiathrough the destruction of Islamic shrines and monuments and thetransformation of India’s Muslims into second class citizens, ornon-citizens,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“This ominous neo-fascist plan commenced with the criminal destruction ofthe historic Babri Mosque in Ayodha by BJP-RSS zealots in 1992,” he said,pointing out that the Indian Supreme Court had acquitted the criminals whodestroyed it.
“Far from being punished,” Ambassador Akram added, “they were given thesite of the demolished Babri Mosque to construct a Hindu temple.” And,“shamefully”, the foundation stone of the temple was laid by the IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi on the first anniversary of India’s latestsiege in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“Like the Babri Mosque, there are thousands of Muslim Islamic religiousshrines and monuments which are threatened by the Hindutva fanatics,” hesaid.
“The OIC has repeatedly called on the Government of India to take immediatesteps to ensure the protection of the over 3,000 mosques and Islamic Holysites across India and the protection of India’s beleaguered 180 millionMuslims who have been mercilessly massacred in numerous large and smallpogroms.”
Ambassador Akram pointed out that the terrorism of hate does not stop atIndia’s borders, and was being perpetrated in occupied Jammu and Kashmirand against Pakistan.
Pakistan, he said, has been a victim of consistent terrorist attacks: in2009, over 40 people killed in a Mosque attack in Rawalpindi; in 2013, 127died in twin suicide bombing at a Church in Peshawar; in 2015, 15 innocentPakistanis died in a Church attack in Lahore; and in 2017, 90 people losttheir lives in an attack on a Sufi shrine.
“We have ample evidence that the attacks by the UN-designated terroristgroup, the TTP and JuA, are being sponsored by Indian intelligenceagencies,” he said, adding that evidence has been shared with the SecurityCouncil’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, with the hope it would take appropriateactions.
“Pakistan will do whatever it takes to defeat terrorism and the designs ofour enemy with a comprehensive, whole of government and whole of societystrategy,” Ambassador Akram said in conclusion.
Tuesday’s launch event was organized by the United Nations Office ofCounter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Allianceof Civilizations (UNAOC), the United Nations Interregional Crime andJustice Research Institute (UNICRI) and INTERPOL, and in cooperation withthe Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).