Pakistan urges global scrutiny of rising Islamophobia, heritage threats in India

Pakistan said on Tuesday it was alarmed by what it called rising Islamophobia and the “desecration” of Muslim heritage sites in India, citing the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Temple built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque.

The Foreign Office said the event in Ayodhya underscored concerns about “majoritarian policies” affecting religious minorities in India. It referred to the Babri Mosque, a 16th-century structure razed by a Hindu mob in 1992, an incident that triggered nationwide riots and remains one of India’s most sensitive communal flashpoints.

Pakistan said subsequent court decisions in India - including a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that allowed construction of a Hindu temple on the site while allocating alternative land for a mosque - reflected what it sees as systemic discrimination against Muslims. India has long rejected such accusations, saying its institutions safeguard equal rights under the constitution.

The FO said the Ayodhya development fits into what it described as a wider pattern of pressure on Muslim cultural and religious sites under Hindu nationalist politics, adding that several historic mosques face legal or political challenges.

Pakistan called on the international community, including the United Nations, to “take cognizance” of hate speech and attacks targeting Muslims in India, and to help safeguard Islamic heritage. It urged New Delhi to ensure the protection of all religious communities and uphold its obligations under international human rights law.