As Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the saffron flag marking the completion of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Pakistan issued an unsolicited statement expressing “deep concern” over the ceremony at the so-called "Ram Temple" built on the site of the historic Babri Mosque.
In its statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office alleged that, “this reflected a broader pattern of pressure on religious minorities in India and deliberate attempts at eroding Muslim cultural and religious heritage under the influence of majoritarian Hindutva ideology.”
The comments come even as Pakistan itself has long been a hotspot for violence against religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Ahmadiyya Muslims.
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), violence and harassment against Christians and Hindus persisted across Pakistan in the first half of 2025, with authorities frequently failing to ensure accountability.
In June, for instance, an antiterrorism court in Jaranwala acquitted 10 men accused of rioting and burning a church in 2023. The Pakistani statement further claimed, “numerous other historic mosques now face similar threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims continue to experience growing social, economic, and political marginalisation.”
Meanwhile, reports from Pakistan continue to highlight cases of forced conversions, particularly involving the forced marriage of Christian and Hindu girls to Sunni Muslim men in Sindh and Punjab during 2025, underscoring the irony of Pakistan’s critique of India, the report cited.
"Pakistan calls on the international community to take cognisance of the rising Islamophobia, hate speech, and hate-motivated attacks in India," added the Foreign Office spokesperson.
"The United Nations and relevant international bodies must play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and ensuring protection of the religious and cultural rights of all minorities."
"Pakistan urges the Government of India to uphold its responsibilities by ensuring the security of all religious communities, including Muslims, and by protecting their places of worship in accordance with international human rights obligations," the statement mentioned.
Pakistan has a record of disregarding the rights of religious minorities and their places of worship, with reports highlighting attacks on communities and the targeting of places of worship, particularly Ahmadiyya mosques.
In October, airstrikes in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 23 civilians. New Delhi slammed Islamabad’s hypocrisy at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), highlighting the ongoing persecution of minorities in Pakistan.
While India celebrates the historic completion of the Ram Mandir, Pakistan’s selective criticism contrasts with its own ongoing challenges in protecting religious minorities.
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