Religious, cultural rights trampled with impunity, India condemns destruction of heritage, asks Pakistan to vacate POK

Expressing concern over recent reported acts of vandalism of 800AD Buddhist heritage in Pakistan Occupied Pakistan (POK), India on Wednesday asked Pakistan to “immediately vacate all illegally occupied territories”.

This strong reaction relayed by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava here came after reports of vandalism, defacement and destruction of Buddhist heritage in

Gilgit-Baltistan. Registering protest, he said “egregious activities” of this nature displaying contempt for the ancient civilisational and cultural heritage are “highly condemnable”.

“We have conveyed our strong concern at reports of vandalism, defacement and destruction of invaluable Indian Buddhist heritage located in Gilgit-Baltistan area of the Indian territory under illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan,” he said.

He said India has sought immediate access for its experts to visit the area in order to restore and preserve the invaluable archaeological heritage.

 “It is a matter of grave concern that the Buddhist symbols are being destroyed and the religious and cultural rights and freedoms are being trampled with impunity in the Indian territories under illegal occupation of Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.

He said Pakistan must vacate the illegally occupied territory which belonged to India. “We have once again called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all illegally occupied territories and end gross violation of political, economic and cultural rights of people living there,” Srivastava said.

Reaction from the MEA came amid reports that 800 AD Buddhist rock carvings were damaged by some unknown elements and the pictures of the same were posted on social media by some residents of Gilgit Baltistan.