Christmas vandalism: Pakistan raises concern over persecution of minorities in India 

Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan on Monday expressed strong concern over the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in India, pointing to recent reports of Christmas-time vandalism and violence directed at Muslims.

Responding to media queries, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that these incidents had intensified fears about the protection and safety of marginalized communities in India, warning that such trends reflected a troubling pattern.

In an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the spokesperson referred to reports detailing attacks on sites linked to minority groups, along with actions by state authorities that Pakistan says have created an atmosphere of fear and exclusion among Muslims.

“The persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern,” Ambassador Andrabi said, highlighting incidents of vandalism during Christmas and what he described as state-backed campaigns against Muslims.

He cited examples including the demolition of homes and repeated cases of mob violence, and also recalled the killing of Muhammad Akhlaq, alleging that those responsible were protected from being held accountable.

The FO spokesperson emphasized that these episodes could not be dismissed as isolated events, noting that the number of affected victims continued to rise.

He urged the international community to closely observe the situation and to take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of the fundamental rights of religious minorities in India.