Summary: Pakistan's new promotion of its pre-Islamic civilisational heritage sits uneasily with its treatment of the Hindu legacy within its borders. In this article, Rati Agnihotri cites the demolition of a century-old temple in Siraj village, Punjab, which Pakistani authorities attribute to rain, and places it within a wider record of temple neglect, forced conversions, abductions and a sharp fall in the Hindu population since 1950. The piece faults limited international attention to these abuses and warns that 'Islamophobia' should not shield Islamist extremism from scrutiny.
Why it matters: The piece documents the persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan and the uneven attention it gets from global media compared with coverage of Hindutva in India. It shows how the same heritage claims made by Pakistan are tested against its treatment of the Hindus who remain.
“Pakistan’s Vanishing Hindu Heritage: Temples, Minorities, and a Record of Persecution” — Stop Hindu Dvesha, 31 Oct 2026
Pakistan’s recent embrace of its ancient pre-Islamic civilizational heritage stands in stark contrast to its treatment of the surviving Hindu legacy within its borders. The reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Punjab highlights a broader record of temple destruction, encroachment, neglect, and violence. Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and other minorities have also faced discrimination, forced conversions, abductions, coercive marriages, and inadequate institutional protection. Pakistan’s Hindu population has declined dramatically since 1950, yet these conditions receive comparatively limited sustained attention in international media and public discourse. While genuine anti-Muslim prejudice must be opposed, “Islamophobia” should not become a smokescreen for avoiding scrutiny of Islamist extremism and minority persecution. Pakistan’s civilizational claims must ultimately be measured against its treatment of its surviving religious minorities.
Recently, Pakistan has been promoting a new narrative claiming the subcontinent’s ancient civilizational heritage as its own. From Panini and Takshashila to the Indus Valley Civilization, its social media campaign has embraced symbols of a distinctly pre-Islamic past. Yet this newfound celebration sits uneasily with the treatment of the heritage that still survives within Pakistan. In August 2026, a century-old Hindu temple in Punjab was reportedly demolished, although Pakistani authorities claimed that it had collapsed due to torrential rains.
The controversy highlights a much larger problem. Pakistan’s Hindu population has declined dramatically since 1950, while reports of attacks on temples, forced conversions, abductions, and discrimination against religious minorities persist…
Read the full article at Stop Hindu Dvesha →
