Pakistan Rejects India’s Narowal Temple Claims as Politically Motivated

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office has rejected allegations raised by India concerning damage to a century-old Hindu temple in Narowal district, describing New Delhi’s assertions as politically motivated and maintaining that the structure was damaged by severe rainfall rather than deliberately demolished. The latest exchange has added another diplomatic dispute to already sensitive Pakistan-India relations, this time centred on the protection of a religious heritage site.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said the temple, located in Siraj village of Narowal, sustained major damage on July 21 during torrential rains. According to Pakistan’s official account, local authorities subsequently inspected the site and began the process required for restoration. Islamabad argues that these steps contradict claims that the structure was intentionally destroyed.

The controversy emerged after a minority rights group challenged the government’s explanation and alleged that the temple had been deliberately removed to facilitate expansion of a nearby seminary. That allegation prompted concern beyond Pakistan, with India’s Ministry of External Affairs calling for a prompt and transparent investigation into what it described as the destruction of the religious site. The competing accounts have placed the circumstances surrounding the temple’s collapse under renewed public scrutiny.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office responded by saying India was disregarding the findings and actions of local authorities. Khan accused New Delhi of presenting the incident for political purposes and said the government had already taken steps to assess the rain damage and restore the building. Islamabad has not accepted the allegation that the temple was intentionally demolished, while the minority rights group’s claim remains part of the public dispute over what happened at the site.

The issue carries particular sensitivity because places of worship and the treatment of religious minorities frequently become points of contention between Pakistan and India. Both governments have previously criticised each other over minority rights, religious freedom and the preservation of historic sites. In its latest response, Pakistan also turned the criticism back on India, raising concerns about the treatment of Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities there and calling for international attention to those issues.

For Pakistan, the Narowal dispute has implications beyond bilateral diplomacy. The controversy puts additional focus on how authorities document damage to minority religious sites, communicate restoration plans and respond to allegations from local rights groups. A transparent record of inspections and rehabilitation work could become important in addressing questions surrounding the temple and demonstrating how protected religious properties are handled after natural disasters.

The immediate next steps are expected to centre on restoration of the damaged structure and any further clarification from the relevant provincial and heritage authorities. India may continue to press for an investigation, while Pakistan is likely to maintain that weather damage caused the collapse and that rehabilitation measures are already underway. The episode underscores how disputes involving religious heritage can quickly become diplomatic flashpoints between the two neighbouring countries.