At UN Forum, India Questions Pakistan’s Record on Protection of Religious Minorities

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations over the treatment of religious minorities, accusing Islamabad of failing to protect vulnerable communities while attempting to lecture others on issues related to religious freedom, burial rights and minority welfare.
 

The remarks were made during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on the issue of burial rights under exceptional circumstances. Representing India, Bhavika Mangalanandan, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, raised concerns about the methodology of a report dealing with alleged religious discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic and questioned its focus on the burial rights of extremists.
 

Mangalanandan argued that the report appeared to place primary responsibility for discriminatory practices and shortcomings during the pandemic on countries of the Global South while overlooking similar incidents that occurred in developed nations.
 

Questioning the approach taken in the report, she said it suggested that all cases of discrimination and improper practices during the COVID-19 period occurred only in the Global South. She asked what purpose was served by excluding references to comparable tragedies and challenges experienced in developed countries.
 

The Indian diplomat also cautioned against the politicisation of human suffering. She said reports dealing with religious freedom should address violations impartially rather than selectively highlighting incidents for political objectives. According to her, the pain and loss experienced by people should not be used as a basis for establishing the relevance of international mechanisms.
 

Referring to the report’s position on burial rights for extremists, Mangalanandan maintained that the rights of offenders should not outweigh the rights of victims who lost their lives in terrorist attacks. She stressed that the concerns of those affected by terrorism must not be overlooked while discussing such issues.
 

Meanwhile, concerns regarding the condition of minorities in Pakistan were also raised at an event organised by the Christian Study Circle. The programme was attended by political representatives, religious leaders, lawyers and social activists, who called for coordinated efforts to address religious extremism and discrimination.
 

At the event, former member of Pakistan’s National Assembly Neelam Kumari alleged that Hindu girls in Pakistan continue to face incidents of abduction and forced religious conversion. She also highlighted the limited effectiveness of existing legal protections, attributing it to weak implementation mechanisms.
 

The developments unfolded amid renewed discussion at international forums on religious freedom, minority rights and the protection of vulnerable communities across the region.