Foreign Ministry urges international community to protect minority rights in neighboring country
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. Photo: File
Pakistan on Monday condemned reported incidents of vandalism over Christmas in India and expressed concern over violence against Muslims, calling on the international community to take note.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the persecution of minorities in India remained a matter of deep concern for Pakistan.
He pointed to recent incidents reported during the Christmas period in which religious symbols and decorations were vandalized. He also highlighted what he described as state-sponsored actions against Muslim communities.
According to official press releases issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the spokesperson cited repeated cases of harassment, demolitions of Muslim homes and lynchings. He said these incidents had contributed to increasing fear and alienation among Indian Muslims.
Andrabi also raised the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, saying authorities’ handling of the incident had raised concerns about the accountability of those involved.
“The persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern,” the statement said.
“Recent reprehensible incidents of vandalism at Christmas, as well as state-sponsored campaigns targeting Muslims, including the demolition of their homes and repeated lynchings, have deepened fear and alienation among Muslims,” it reads.
“The list of these victims is unfortunately long,” the press release added.
Read: MoFA urged to adopt best practices
The spokesperson called on the international community to take note of these developments. He urged appropriate measures to safeguard the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the treatment of minorities in India at multilateral forums. Islamabad says discriminatory policies and communal violence undermine social cohesion and regional stability.
India has previously rejected such statements, calling them politically motivated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan would continue to highlight issues related to religious freedom and equal citizenship rights. This is particularly important where actions against minorities risk widening social divisions.
Pakistan maintains that the protection of minority groups is a shared international responsibility. He urged States and global human rights bodies to closely monitor developments affecting vulnerable communities in the region.
