Indian government sources have strongly hit back at Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif after he criticized the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” award recently conferred upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles.
Slamming the remarks, official sources labeled the Pakistani minister as “mentally unstable” and attributed his comments to deep-seated envy.
The Controversial Remarks and India’s Response
The diplomatic spat erupted after Khawaja Asif described PM Modi’s recognition as an “engineered recognition,” alleging that the award was hastily fabricated just ahead of the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit. Asif pointed to an early, leaked version of the official citation that contained typographical errors, calling the incident “the most embarrassing story ever.”
Indian government sources sharply rebuked his comments in a statement to NDTV:
“That Khawaja Asif is mentally unstable is a known fact. That he could be entrusted with his current responsibility says much about today’s Pakistan. Clearly, he has no day job and passes time by making silly comments on matters of which he has little knowledge. Envy is always a bad motivation, particularly so from someone steeped in hate speech.”
While New Delhi has refrained from issuing a formal, public diplomatic statement, insiders maintain that Pakistan’s reaction stems strictly from geopolitical jealousy rather than actual facts.
Seychelles Clarifies the Typographical Error
Amid the back-and-forth between the two neighboring nations, the Seychelles government stepped in to clarify the situation and categorically rejected Pakistan’s claims.
The Office of the President of Seychelles released a statement outlining the legitimacy of the honor:
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Legally Established: The Order of the Guardian of the Blue Horizon is a legitimate state honor established under Seychelles’ National Honours Act. It was formally approved well before PM Modi’s arrival.
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The Purpose: The award specifically recognizes exceptional global contributions to the sustainable use of oceans, maritime security, and the preservation of the blue economy.
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The Typos: Addressing the document circulating online, the Seychelles government explained it was merely an internal working draft that was inadvertently shared before final proofreading. They emphasized that the final, official citation presented during the formal investiture ceremony was entirely error-free.
