The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the global community to protect the rights of minorities in neighboring countries
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. Photo: File
Pakistan on Monday condemned incidents of vandalism reported during Christmas in India and expressed concern over violence against Muslims and urged the international community to take note.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the persecution of minorities in India remains a matter of deep concern for Pakistan.
He referred to recent incidents reported during the Christmas period where religious symbols and decorations were vandalized. He also pointed to what he described as state-sponsored actions against Muslim communities.
According to official press statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the spokesman cited repeated incidents of harassment, demolition of Muslim homes and lynchings. He said these incidents had contributed to growing fear and alienation among Indian Muslims.
Andrabi also referred to the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, saying the authorities’ handling of the incident had raised concerns about accountability for those involved.
“The persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern,” the statement said.
“The 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 intensified fear and alienation among Muslims,” it said.
“The list of such victims is unfortunately long,” the statement added.
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The spokesperson called on the international community to take note of this development. He urged for appropriate measures to protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern over the treatment of minorities in India in multilateral forums. Islamabad claims that discriminatory policies and communal violence undermine social cohesion and regional stability.
India has previously rejected such statements, calling them politically motivated.
The State Department said Pakistan will continue to highlight issues related to religious freedom and equal citizenship rights. It said this was particularly important where actions against minorities risk widening social divides.
Pakistan maintains that the protection of minority groups is a shared international responsibility. It has called on states and global human rights bodies to closely monitor developments affecting vulnerable communities in the region.
