Pakistan destroying ancient Hindu temple 'Sharda Peeth' in PoK to build coffee house

In what is being slammed as yet another instance of ‘Hindophobia,’ Pakistan is destroying an ancient Hindu temple in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to build a coffee house for the soldiers. In a letter to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dara Shikoh Foundation said that the government in Islamabad has sought to demolish the heritage site 'Sharda Peeth', a Hindu temple, and has already carried out the destruction of a wall.

Despite that there is no court order, Sharda Peeth, which was declared a cultural heritage, is being deliberately targeted by the Pakistani government, Mohammad Amir Rashid, the President of the foundation was quoted as saying as per the reports. Sharada Peeth is a ruined Hindu temple and ancient centre of learning located in the Neelum Valley of PoK. The temple is being destroyed to build a coffee house for Pakistani soldiers inside POK. 

Hindu Temple at Tharparkar Mithi, Sindh Hinglaj Mata Mandir UNESCO -Recognised Sharda Peeth demolished by Pakistan’s anti encroachment Court in Mirpurkhas of Sindh. 

The Dara hua musalman demolished the temple despite a standing Supreme Court order aimed at protecting the… pic.twitter.com/1Dnaaf2Muv

— Decolonizing the Hindu Mind (@indicfaith) November 24, 2023

In the letter, President of Dara Shikoh Foundation asked the DG of UNESCO to take stern action against Pakistan government. Foundation’s president mentioned another temple in his letter to UNESCO which he said is also being systemically damaged by Pakistan. “UNESCO should take action and take rehabilitation and conservation work into its hand,” he said, according to the news agency ANI.

‘Abode of Shiva’ for Kashmiri Pandits

The foundation’s president noted that the iconic Sharada Peeth, which is located in the valley of Mount Harmukh, is believed by Kashmiri Pandits to be the abode of Shiva. The central government has planned to open the ancient ‘Sharda Peeth’ Corridor for devotees, he said. The latter continued that the ‘Sharda Peeth’ corridor will be based on the blueprint of Kartarpur Corridor in Punjab. “Sharada Peeth is one of the 3 holiest sites of pilgrimage for Kashmiri Pandits, alongside Martand Sun Temple, Amarnath Temple,” he informed.

"This incident has been specifically carried out so that their radical thinking gets promoted somewhere and under the guise of a coffee house, they are damaging the Sharda Peeth despite the strict instructions of the Supreme Court. There is also Hinglaj temple there and within three-four weeks the temples have been systematically damaged," Rashid’s letter read.

He requested that the UNESO must take rehabilitation and conservation work in it's hand. ”We have demanded in the letter that the UNESCO Director General should call the local representative and since UNESCO itself has declared it as cultural heritage, then rehabilitation and revival of Sharda Peeth should be done to conserve it," he stated. Such demolition is occurring despite an existing Supreme Court order prohibiting it.