India raises concern over desecration of Buddha statue in Pakistan

"We have conveyed our expectation that Pakistan would ensure the safety, and well-being of the minority community there, as well as protect their cultural heritage," MEA spokesperson said

India has expressed its concerns to Pakistan over a Buddha statue being smashed into pieces with a sledgehammer in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, and asked Islamabad to ensure the protection of the cultural heritage of minorities.

A rare life-sized statue of Buddha was smashed into pieces with a sledgehammer by construction workers in Mardan district of the Pakistani province. The statue belonged to the Gandhara civilisation and was nearly 1,700 years old, a senior Pakistani official had said.

Four persons were arrested on Saturday for vandalising the statue that was discovered during excavation at an agriculture farm.

The suspects had followed