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Pakistan Rejects India’s Claim of Golden Temple Attack Plot
Pakistan strongly denies Indian claims of plotting an attack on Amritsar’s Golden Temple. FO says such accusations are baseless, calling them a diversion from India’s own actions.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-20
Pakistan Rejects India’s Claim of Golden Temple Attack Plot

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday firmly rejected India’s allegation that it had attempted to target the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar during the recent escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The accusation emerged amid heightened hostilities following a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam region last month. India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the assault, though no concrete evidence has been presented publicly. Pakistan denied the charges and urged for an independent and neutral investigation into the matter.

According to Indian media reports, including The Hindu, a senior Indian army official alleged that Pakistan had aimed to strike the Golden Temple, a sacred site for Sikhs worldwide. The official claimed the attack was “thwarted” and said the temple management had been granted permission to deploy arms to counter potential drone and missile threats from Pakistan.

In response, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan issued a strong denial.

“We categorically reject the allegations that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple, the most revered place in the Sikh faith,” Khan said in a statement. “We hold all places of worship in the highest esteem and cannot think of targeting a holy site like the Golden Temple.”

He emphasized that Pakistan, unlike India, respects religious sanctities, adding that India had itself targeted places of worship within Pakistan on May 6 and 7. “Such allegations cannot shift attention from this unacceptable act,” he added.

Khan further highlighted Pakistan’s role as a caretaker of significant Sikh religious sites, including the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. Through the Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan provides visa-free access to thousands of Sikh pilgrims each year — a fact he said reflects the country’s commitment to interfaith harmony and respect.

“In that backdrop, any claim concerning Pakistan’s attempt to target the Golden Temple is absolutely baseless and incorrect,” the spokesperson reiterated.

Additionally, Khan addressed recent Indian media reports alleging that Pakistan had used nuclear-capable Shaheen missiles during the tensions. He confirmed that the Indian army later removed the video, acknowledging the claims were false and misleading.

“These fabricated stories align with New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to promote a misleading narrative regarding the ceasefire and baseless allegations of so-called ‘nuclear blackmail’ by Pakistan,” the FO said.

The exchange of accusations comes at a fragile time, with both nations having come dangerously close to military conflict before a ceasefire was brokered with U.S. intervention. Observers have warned that inflammatory rhetoric and unverified claims could further destabilize regional peace.

 
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