Diplomatic Clash Erupts Over Ayodhya Ceremony
A fresh diplomatic confrontation has emerged between India and Pakistan following Pakistan's criticism of the Ram Temple flag-hoisting ceremony in Ayodhya. The exchange occurred on November 26, 2025, when Pakistan officially objected to the religious event, prompting a sharp response from New Delhi.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal led India's strong rebuttal, categorically rejecting what he described as Pakistan's unwarranted interference in India's internal affairs. The MEA's response highlighted Pakistan's own troubled history with religious minorities and institutionalized discrimination.
India's Strong Counter-Argument
Jaiswal dismissed Pakistan's remarks with what he termed "the contempt they deserve," emphasizing that Islamabad lacked any moral authority to comment on India's religious freedoms. The spokesperson pointed to Pakistan's documented history of temple destruction and systematic persecution of religious minorities as evidence of its hypocrisy.
The MEA statement stressed that Pakistan should focus on addressing its own deteriorating human rights situation rather than attempting to create controversy around India's cultural celebrations. India characterized Pakistan's comments as politically motivated and designed to manufacture international concern where none existed.
Widening Gulf Between Neighbors
This latest exchange further strains the already tense relationship between the two neighboring nations. Pakistan had attempted to frame the Ayodhya ceremony as part of what it called a pressure campaign against minorities in India - a claim that New Delhi immediately rejected as baseless and hypocritical.
The diplomatic clash comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with this incident representing another point of contention in their complex relationship. India's firm stance reflects its growing confidence in confronting what it sees as unfounded criticism from Pakistan regarding internal matters and religious freedom.
Observers note that the strong wording from the MEA indicates India's determination to push back against international criticism of its domestic policies, particularly those related to cultural and religious matters. The exchange underscores the deepening diplomatic divide between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
