SOURCE: AFI
In a provocative statement during a session of Pakistan’s upper house of Parliament, Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan sparked controversy by making bold remarks about the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India. The Senator declared that the “first brick of the new Babri Mosque will be laid by Pakistan Army soldiers” and that the “first Azaan (Islamic call to prayer) will be given by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir.”
Senator Khan, known for her hardline views, made the statement while addressing members of the Pakistani Senate during a discussion on regional affairs and Pakistan’s response to developments in India. “We are not wearing bangles,” she said, invoking a popular phrase often used in Pakistani political rhetoric to assert strength and masculinity.
The comments have raised eyebrows across political and diplomatic circles, with many observers describing them as inflammatory and disconnected from diplomatic norms. The Babri Mosque, a centuries-old structure in Ayodhya, was demolished in 1992, sparking widespread communal riots across India. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India awarded the disputed land for the construction of a Ram Temple, which is now nearing completion.
Senator Khan’s comments appear to be symbolic and hyperbolic rather than an indication of any actionable intent. However, such remarks are likely to further strain already tense relations between India and Pakistan.
There has been no official response yet from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, but political commentators in New Delhi have dismissed the comments as a desperate attempt to stoke sentiment and remain relevant in Pakistan’s deeply polarized domestic politics.
Analysts also point out that while such statements play well to certain constituencies within Pakistan, they do little to further dialogue or peace in the region. “This kind of rhetoric is not just irresponsible, it’s delusional,” said a senior Indian official who declined to be named. “India’s internal matters are being used to whip up public sentiment in Pakistan, but the world sees through these antics.”
This statement also comes amid rising domestic pressure on Pakistan’s military leadership and political elite to address the country’s struggling economy, internal instability, and deteriorating law and order situation.
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