THE Indian community in the Philippines has condemned the attack of the Pakistani Army on the Jammu and Kashmir districts in India on May 7, and called for prayers for the victims of the incident, which claimed 12 lives.

In a statement, Manila-based businessman Manjinder “James” Kumar said the attacks, amid the early stages of the war between the neighboring South Asian states, needlessly claimed innocent lives.

“As the Chairman of Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple Manila, and on the behalf of Indian Community exercising their religious freedom in the Philippines, I strongly condemn Pakistan’s Army shelling on Shri Guru Sikh Sabha Gurudwara in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on May 7,” Kumar said.

“The attack has caused huge damage in civilian areas of Poonch, leading to the death of nearly 12 people in the district,” he added.

Kumar also asked “for everyone’s prayers regardless of race or religion, during this perilous time when an individual’s faith may put his life at risk.”

“Let us remain vigilant against all forms of oppression—whether religious or otherwise,” he added.

Last week, Kumar, in his capacity as president of the Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society Inc. (FICWSI), denounced an attack by Pakistani-led terrorists in Pahalgam, India that left 26 tourists dead, calling for justice and stronger international action against terrorism.

He expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, most of whom were Hindu pilgrims visiting the Baisaran Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, which sparked the current Indo-Pakistani conflict.

“On behalf of the 100,000-strong Indian community in the Philippines and upstanding Filipino-Indians represented by our society FICWSI, we express our deepest condolences to the survivors and the families of the victims of this senseless act of violence,” said Kumar.

Founded in 1929 by a small group of Punjabi migrants, Khalsa Diwan Temple is Manila’s oldest gurdwara. It marked the beginning of a budding Sikh community in the Philippines.

A gurdwara or gurudwarais a place of assembly and worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is “place of guru” or “home of guru.”

As Chairman of Khalsa Diwan, the oldest Sihk temple in Paco, Manila, Kumar has led the Indian Sikh Community in Manila from the front.

Aside from juggling roles as businessman and FICWSI founding president, Kumar is also director of Indian Cultural Association of the Philippines (ICAP), general secretary of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), and Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) Advisory Council Member.

Kumar served as president of Rotary Club of Makati Nielsen for two consecutive years and was vice president of the PNP Foreign National Keepers (FNKN) for three years. He was dubbed “Philanthropist of the Year” by Asia Leaders Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022.