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New Delhi: India has conveyed strong concern at reports of vandalism, defacement and destruction of invaluable Indian Buddhist heritage located in the so called “Gilgit-Baltistan” area of the Indian territory under illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan.

This was stated on Wednesday, 3 June 2020, by Anurag Srivastava, official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs

The official spokesperson has responded to queries in this matter by stating: “It is a matter of grave concern that the Buddhist symbols are being destroyed and the religious and cultural rights and freedoms are being trampled with impunity in the Indian territories under illegal occupation of Pakistan. Egregious activities of this nature which display contempt for the ancient civilizational and cultural heritage are highly condemnable.

We have sought immediate access for our experts to the area in order to restore and preserve this invaluable archaeological heritage.

We have once again called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all illegally occupied territories and end gross violation of political, economic and cultural rights of people living there.”