India Pushes Back At Pakistan, Cites Its Poor Record On Minority Rights

Friday saw India reject Pakistan’s allegations that Muslim heritage was being erased, asserting that Islamabad lacks the moral authority to comment on minority issues. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged Pakistan to first confront its own long-standing record of repression and mistreatment of religious minorities.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue. He stressed that Pakistan should examine its domestic situation before levelling accusations against others.

“I need not elaborate or tell you what is the situation of minorities in that country and those people who make such comments should first look at their record before commenting on others,” Jaiswal said, when asked about Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi’s recent remarks regarding a demolition drive in New Delhi.

Asked about the issue, Jaiswal said those making such claims should reflect on their own track record on minority rights. He added that the condition of minorities in Pakistan was widely known and required no further explanation.

Pakistan’s comments followed a demolition drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area. Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) clarified that the operation aimed to remove illegal encroachments from land adjoining the mosque and nearby localities.

Authorities explained that the action was carried out in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court. The drive, they noted, was not directed against any religious structure.

India’s Firm Rebuttal

Earlier, India dismissed similar remarks from Islamabad on alleged violence against minorities, describing Pakistan’s own human rights record as abysmal. In a statement, the MEA pointed out that Pakistan’s systemic victimisation of minorities across faiths is a well-established fact.

Previously, in November, India responded strongly to Pakistan’s comments on flag hoisting at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. At the time, officials asserted that Pakistan had no moral standing to lecture others, given its history of repression and discrimination.

Independent studies have highlighted widespread persecution of minorities in Pakistan, including Hindus and Christians. A report by the International Centre for Peace Studies observed the consistent portrayal of Hindus as the ‘other’ and the political exploitation of religion and anti-India sentiment.

Additionally, findings from the Centre for Social Justice in Lahore revealed that 344 blasphemy cases were recorded in 2024.

Between 2021 and 2024, the report documented at least 421 minority women and girls. Most of them were Hindus and Christians who were subjected to forced conversions.

Ultimately, India maintained that Pakistan should focus on addressing its internal human rights challenges. It said Islamabad should refrain from issuing what it described as hypocritical statements on other nations.

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