The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday strongly rejected remarks made by Pakistan’s foreign ministry regarding the alleged targeting of minorities in India, asserting that Pakistan has no standing to comment on the issue given its own record of systemic discrimination against religious minorities.

Responding to reported statements by Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, the MEA said that attempts by Islamabad to raise concerns about minority rights in India amounted to “finger pointing” that could not conceal Pakistan’s well-documented treatment of minorities.

“We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself. Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger pointing will obfuscate it,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The MEA’s response followed comments attributed to Andrabi, who reportedly described certain incidents in India as examples of “targeting religious minorities” and urged the international community to take note of them. According to a report by Pakistani broadcaster ARY News, Andrabi termed the alleged persecution of minorities in India a matter of “serious concern.”

The report claimed that Andrabi referred to incidents of vandalism ahead of Christmas and alleged state-backed campaigns against Muslims, including demolitions of homes and cases of lynching. He reportedly cited the high-profile Muhammad Akhlaq case, alleging that authorities had shielded the perpetrators from accountability.

Pre-Christmas Vandalism Incidents

In recent days, several incidents of vandalism linked to Christmas celebrations were reported from different parts of India, triggering political reactions and public debate.

In Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, a mall was reportedly vandalised on December 24 during a day-long shutdown, or “Chhattisgarh bandh,” called over alleged religious conversions. The incident took place amid heightened tensions and was reported by news agency PTI, citing officials.

A similar incident occurred in Assam’s Nalbari on the same day, where members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)and Bajrang Dal allegedly vandalised Christmas decorative items at a school and damaged festive articles in local shops. Police later arrested four people in connection with the incident, PTI quoted officials as saying.

Reports of such incidents also emerged from other states, including Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, in the days leading up to Christmas.

Political Reactions in India

The incidents drew criticism from Opposition leaders. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that Christmas celebrations this year were marked by “fear and anxiety” for members of the Christian community. Former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot described the incidents as “worrying and condemnable,” calling for strict action against those responsible.

While addressing Pakistan’s remarks, Indian officials reiterated that issues related to law and order and protection of citizens’ rights in India are dealt with through constitutional mechanisms and the rule of law. The MEA maintained that Pakistan’s attempts to internationalise such issues were misplaced and deflected attention from its own domestic human rights challenges.

The sharp exchange underscores continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly on issues related to human rights, minorities and international perception, with both sides frequently accusing the other of hypocrisy and misinformation.