Hindu Council of Pakistan supports call as authorities discuss Iran crisis, escalation on western border
President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the Hindu community to celebrate Holi in a simple and moderate manner this year, citing the prevailing security situation on Pakistan’s western border and heightened regional tensions, and called for unity and shared responsibility.
President Asif Ali Zardari urged the Hindu community to celebrate Holi in a simple and moderate manner this year, taking into account the situation on Pakistan’s western border and tensions in the region, and called for unity and shared responsibility during this time.
– The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 1, 2026
The Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) fully supported the President’s call. In a statement issued on Monday, PHC chief boss Ramesh Kumar Vankwani asked the council to review the preparations for the annual Holi celebrations across the country.
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He urged community representatives to exercise caution, avoid large-scale public events and fully cooperate with local authorities.
Vankwani said the patriotic Hindu community of Pakistan has always played a positive role in promoting national unity, harmony and interfaith cohesion.
Similarly, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori extended Holi greetings to the Hindu community, describing the festival as “a beautiful celebration of colors, love and brotherhood.”
He said Sindh, known as the land of Sufis, is defined by tolerance and harmony, adding that minorities in Pakistan enjoy constitutional and religious freedom. The governor acknowledged the role of the Hindu community in the development and prosperity of the country, noting that Holi carries the message of erasing hatred and spreading colors of love and peace.
The advisory comes amid heightened regional uncertainty over the weekend after the United States and Israel launched what they described as a “pre-emptive” joint strike against targets in Iran, with US President Donald Trump announcing the start of “major combat operations”.
Worse, Pakistan also launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban following what officials described as “unprovoked firing” from across the border. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani armed forces destroyed 182 Taliban posts and captured 31, signaling a sharp escalation along the western border.
Holi, often called the festival of colors, is a major Hindu spring festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. Celebrated with colorful powders, festive gatherings and traditional sweets, it is observed by Hindu communities in Pakistan and the wider region.
