ISLAMBAD: Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned India's Charge D'Affaires on Monday, conveying the Islamabad government's "categorical rejection and strong condemnation" of insulting remarks made by two former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons.
According to reports, the Ministry told the Indian envoy that these remarks were "completely inappropriate" and had "seriously hurt the sensibilities of not only Pakistanis but Muslims around the world." Pakistan also "deplores the belated and perfunctory disciplinary procedures taken by the BJP government against the abovementioned officials, which cannot assuage the agony inflicted on the Muslims," the statement added.
"Pakistan is profoundly concerned about India's worrisome rise in sectarian violence and anti-Muslim sentiment. Across India, Muslims are being stigmatised, marginalised, and subjected to a well-coordinated attack by extremist Hindu mobs, with the full knowledge and assistance of the security apparatus "In a statement, the Ministry said.
The remarks made by former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal have been denounced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharid, President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and former premier Imran Khan.
The BJP suspended Sharma and Jindal on Sunday for their remarks on Prophet Muhammad, saying that the party's position is to respect all religions. Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran have all condemned the remarks.
On Sunday, India's ambassadors to Kuwait and Qatar were summoned to receive official protest papers in response to the remarks.
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