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Amid the escalated tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that Pakistan was targeting places of worship in India and called it “a new low even for Pakistan.”
In the daily joint press briefing held on Friday, May 9, the Foreign Secretary said that Pakistan targeted gurudwaras, temples, and convents during its attack on May 7 at Poonch. “We have seen the Pak side targeting and shelling the places of worship, including gurudwaras, convents and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan.”
He also said Pakistan’s claim of not targeting religious sites was false, citing the attack on a gurudwara in Poonch. “The gurudwara in Poonch, in particular, was attacked by Pakistan, and some local members of the Sikh community lost their lives in this incident,” Vikram Misri stated.
According to Misri, during heavy shelling across the Line of Control in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed behind Christ School, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students from the school, killing both children and seriously injuring their parents.
Another Pakistani shell struck a convent of nuns belonging to the congregation of Mother Carmel Convent (MCC), damaging water tanks and destroying solar panel infrastructure.
“Several priests, nuns, school staff and local residents took refuge in an underground hall beneath the Christ school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school happened to be closed at the time, fortunately, otherwise more losses would have occurred,” Misri added.
During the press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistan attacked India with heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control (LoC) and carried out multiple drone-based intrusions from Leh to Sir Creek.
“Drone intrusions were attempted at 36 locations along the International Border and LoC, using approximately 300 to 400 drones and non-kinetic means,” she said. “The possible objective was to test our air defence systems and gather intelligence.”