Fri Mar 28 14:16:20 UTC 2025: ## India Condemns Surge in Attacks on Minorities in Pakistan, Raises Concerns Over Bangladesh
**New Delhi, [Date]** – India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today informed Parliament about a sharp rise in attacks against religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, citing numerous instances of violence and persecution. He detailed at least ten major incidents targeting Hindus in Pakistan during February alone, including abductions, forced conversions, and even police brutality against students celebrating Holi.
Jaishankar highlighted seven cases of abduction and forced conversion to Islam, two kidnappings, and one instance of police brutality against Hindu students. The minister also reported three separate attacks against Sikhs, including one family brutally assaulted for resisting forced conversion, another family threatened for reopening a Gurdwara, and a young Sikh girl abducted and tortured until she converted to Islam. Further incidents involved the targeting of members of the Ahmediya Muslim community and a Christian individual.
The minister emphasized that India closely monitors the treatment of minorities in both Pakistan and Bangladesh. While acknowledging 2,400 incidents of attacks against minorities in Bangladesh in 2024 and 72 in 2025, he stated that these issues have been raised with Bangladeshi counterparts. He also noted widespread reports of atrocities, abductions, forced disappearances, torture, and killings in Balochistan.
Responding to questions about potential strong action against Pakistan, Jaishankar reiterated India’s well-known stance on the matter but acknowledged the limitations of changing Pakistan’s “fanatical and bigoted mindset,” even referencing the inability of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to achieve this after the 1971 war. He concluded by stating that India continues to raise these concerns at the international level, including at the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly.
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