India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the demolition of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, a 125-year-old [1] Sikh shrine in Pakistan.

The incident heightens diplomatic tensions between the two nations over the protection of minority religious sites. India has called for the immediate restoration of the shrine and justice for the act.

The gurdwara was located in Farooqabad, in the Punjab province, approximately 70 kilometres [2] northwest of Lahore. Reports indicate that a local businessman in the province carried out the demolition.

A spokesperson for the India Ministry of External Affairs said the event was a "highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism" [3]. The ministry said that the demolition was a targeted attack against a minority religious site.

Indian officials have demanded that the Pakistani government take swift action to address the destruction. The MEA said the site must be restored to its original state to preserve the religious heritage of the region.

Farooqabad has historically been home to various religious landmarks, but the loss of the 125-year-old [1] structure represents a significant blow to the local Sikh community. The Indian government continues to monitor the situation and awaits a formal response from Pakistani authorities regarding the accountability of the businessman involved.

“Highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism”

The demolition of a century-old religious site serves as a flashpoint in the fragile India-Pakistan relationship, specifically regarding the treatment of the Sikh minority in Pakistan. By framing the incident as 'targeted vandalism,' India is signaling that it views the protection of religious heritage as a non-negotiable component of bilateral stability.