Government sources have strongly criticised Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the "Guardian of the Blue Horizon" award presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Seychelles government. The sharp response came after Asif described the honour as an "engineered recognition" and claimed it had been created shortly before PM Modi's visit.

Responding to Asif's remarks, government sources dismissed his comments and questioned his credibility. They said, "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."

Asif had alleged that the award was introduced in a hurry ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Seychelles. He also referred to reports of typographical errors in an earlier version of the award citation. Calling the incident "the most embarrassing story ever", he claimed the mistakes raised questions about the credibility of the honour.

The Seychelles government, however, rejected these allegations. The Office of the President of Seychelles issued a statement and clarified that the Order of the Guardian of the Blue Horizon was established under the country's National Honours Act. It said the honour had received formal approval before PM Modi arrived in the country.

According to the statement, the award recognises exceptional contributions to the sustainable use and protection of the oceans and the blue economy. The government said the honour was not created for the Indian Prime Minister's visit, contrary to the claims made by the Pakistani minister.

The Seychelles government also addressed the issue of the typographical errors that had circulated online. It explained that the document being shared on social media was only an internal working draft. Officials said the draft had been released accidentally before it went through the final proofreading process.

The statement added that the final citation presented during the official investiture ceremony was the approved version. It contained no typographical errors and accurately reflected the honour being conferred on Prime Minister Modi.

India has not issued an official statement on the controversy surrounding the award. However, government sources responded to Pakistan's criticism through informal remarks. They said the comments reflected "envy" rather than facts. The sources also accused Khawaja Asif of making statements on issues "of which he has little knowledge."

The exchange has added another chapter to the ongoing war of words between India and Pakistan. While Pakistan questioned the authenticity of the award, the Seychelles government firmly defended its decision and confirmed that all official procedures had been completed before Prime Minister Modi's visit. Government sources in India also maintained that Asif's remarks lacked factual basis and were driven by hostility rather than evidence.