India Slams Pakistan Defence Minister Over Remarks on PM Modi’s Seychelles Honour

 The Indian government strongly criticised Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the honour recently awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles. Government sources dismissed Asif's remarks and accused him of making uninformed statements regarding matters beyond his understanding.

According to sources, the comments made by the Pakistani minister reflected a lack of awareness about the significance of the award and the circumstances under which it was conferred. They also alleged that Asif frequently makes controversial remarks on international issues.

The reaction came after Asif raised questions about the "Guardian of the Blue Horizon" Presidential Distinction awarded to Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Seychelles last month.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif raised questions over the "Guardian of the Blue Horizon" honour awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles.

The honour, introduced under Seychelles' revamped national awards system, was presented to PM Modi in recognition of his contributions to environmental protection and his support for the interests of Small Island Developing States. He became the first global leader to receive the distinction.

While accepting the award, Modi expressed gratitude to the government and people of Seychelles and dedicated the recognition to countries facing the increasing impact of climate change and environmental challenges.

Government sources in India described Asif's criticism as politically motivated and argued that such remarks stemmed from an inability to acknowledge India's growing global engagement and international recognition.

The exchange has added to a series of diplomatic sparring incidents involving the Pakistani minister. Indian sources also pointed to previous controversies surrounding Asif's public statements, including criticism he faced from Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration in 2025 over comments related to cross-border security issues.

The latest war of words underscores the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with political leaders on both sides frequently exchanging sharp remarks over regional and international developments.