The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday strongly rejected Pakistan’s attempts to invoke the shared legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization, its remarks on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), and its response to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s comments on PoK, accusing Islamabad of promoting cross-border terrorism, religious fundamentalism and suppressing the rights of people in areas under its control.
Responding to questions during the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan’s record on terrorism and minority rights prevented it from claiming ownership of a pluralistic cultural heritage.
“Let me put this straight – a country which has been promoting cross-border terrorism, which has been promoting religious fundamentalism and violence for decades, cannot have any claim to any pluralistic cultural legacy. Their abysmal track record on the protection of minorities and their cultural rights makes such desperate attempts look even more phoney,” Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal was responding to questions on recent statements by Pakistani leaders referring to the Indus Valley Civilization as a part of Pakistan’s national identity. Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar had described the Indus Valley Civilization as central to Pakistan’s identity, stating that the people of Pakistan trace their roots to the banks and tributaries of the Indus River.
Rejecting the narrative, the MEA said Islamabad’s references to the ancient civilization could not be separated from its continued support for cross-border terrorism and its treatment of minorities and cultural rights.
The issue also comes amid tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, India placed the treaty in abeyance after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), stating that the circumstances under which the agreement was negotiated had fundamentally changed.
India has maintained that Pakistan’s continued support for state-sponsored terrorism has affected the foundation of bilateral cooperation and that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be viewed in isolation from security concerns.
MEA Slams “Cosmetic” Elections in PoK
On the ongoing electoral exercise in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal said the process was an attempt by Islamabad to conceal its illegal occupation and alleged human rights violations in the region.
“We have seen reports regarding the so-called legislative assembly elections being conducted in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India’s position in this particular matter has been clear, consistent, and well known. The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas currently under illegal occupation and forcible occupation of Pakistan, are integral and inalienable parts of India,” he said.
“The current cosmetic electoral exercise is nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and hide its grave human rights violations in the region. As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protest in PoJK, of which you are aware, is the direct consequence of economic exploitation, its denial of fundamental rights to the people and its administrative operations,” Jaiswal added.
The MEA’s remarks came amid reports of protests in PoJK over allegations of political interference, economic hardships, electoral irregularities and restrictions on democratic rights. Protest groups have accused authorities of suppressing dissent and using administrative measures to influence the political process.
Rejects Pakistan’s Response to Rajnath Singh’s PoK Remarks
The MEA also rejected Pakistan’s criticism of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks during Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations, where he said that PoK was illegally occupied by Pakistan.
Responding to Islamabad’s statement, Jaiswal said, “The statement that was issued post the remarks made by our Defence Minister, we reject their baseless and hollow statement in its entirety.”
During his address in Drass, Singh had reiterated India’s position that any future engagement with Pakistan would focus on the issue of territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
“Our intention is clear. There will be no talks with Pakistan. If there are any talks, they will be only on PoK, which is a part of India and illegally occupied by Pakistan,” Singh had said.
India Reiterates Concerns Over Cross-Border Terrorism
Responding to questions about social media videos showing some Pakistani Gen Z users expressing support for Indian youth during recent student protests in New Delhi, Jaiswal reiterated India’s concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
“Pakistan has been sponsoring cross-border terrorism against India for several decades now. The people of India, including Gen Z, have been demanding that Pakistani state-sponsored cross-border terrorism must come to an end. We hope their counterparts are taking due note,” he said.
The MEA said India’s concerns remain focused on Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism, while asserting that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, remain an integral part of India.
(With ANI inputs)
