External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has emphasized that India closely tracks the treatment of minorities in Pakistan and actively raises concerns at the international level, including at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
During Question Hour in Lok Sabha on Friday, Jaishankar detailed ten cases of crimes against minorities in Pakistan that took place in February alone. These included:
- Seven cases of abduction and forcible conversions,
- Two cases of abduction,
- One incident involving police action against students celebrating Holi.
Additionally, he highlighted three incidents against the Sikh community, two cases concerning the Ahmadiyya community, and a Christian individual charged with blasphemy despite reportedly being mentally unstable.
Jaishankar noted that in one instance, a Sikh family was attacked, while another Sikh family was threatened over the reopening of an old gurdwara. The Ahmadiyya community faced desecration of 40 graves, and their mosque was sealed.
Jaishankar reaffirmed that India is actively taking up these human rights violations on the international stage. He cited India’s UNHRC representative, who recently criticized Pakistan’s policies, stating: “Pakistan is a country where human rights abuses, persecution of minorities, and systematic erosion of democratic values are state policies. It brazenly harbors UN-sanctioned terrorists and is in no position to lecture anyone. Instead, Pakistan should focus on providing actual governance and justice to its own people.”
Similarly, India’s Ambassador to the UNGA also underscored Pakistan’s history of bigotry and religious fanaticism, highlighting its track record of persecuting minorities.
On March 26, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) released its first-quarter report of 2025, revealing a sharp rise in the victimization of religious minorities. The report condemned the worsening situation, blaming political and religious backing for the perpetrators.
HRFP President Naveed Walter stated: “Religious minorities in Pakistan are easy targets for attacks, blasphemy charges, abductions, and forced conversions. The lack of attention to their suffering is even more painful.”
One of the cases highlighted involved Wasif Masih, a Christian youth from Faisalabad, who was falsely accused of theft, assaulted, and publicly humiliated by having black paint smeared on his face.
With growing international scrutiny, India continues to push for accountability on Pakistan’s human rights violations, ensuring the world takes note of the ongoing persecution of minorities in the country.
