ISLAMABAD: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has escalated its criticism of India’s religious freedom record by urging the US government to enforce Section 6 of the Arms Export Control Act and immediately halt arms sales to India.
This recommendation appears in the commission’s 2026 Annual Report, released in early March, which documents alleged severe violations of religious freedom during 2025.
The USCIRF, an independent bipartisan federal advisory body, has once again designated India as a Country of Particular Concern for the seventh consecutive year due to systematic and egregious violations.
Section 6 of the Arms Export Control Act prohibits letters of offer, credits, guarantees, or export licenses to countries engaged in consistent patterns of intimidation or harassment against individuals in the United States.
The commission links this provision to continued acts targeting US citizens and religious minorities, including alleged transnational repression.
The report highlights ongoing pressure and harassment against religious minorities in India, such as Muslims and Christians, through discriminatory laws and vigilante violence.
It points to strengthened anti-conversion laws in several states with harsher penalties, alongside toleration of attacks on minority communities and places of worship.
The USCIRF recommends broader measures, including targeted sanctions on entities like India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
These sanctions would involve freezing assets and barring entry into the United States for individuals or entities responsible for or tolerant of severe violations.
The inclusion of RAW marks a continuation from prior reports, with the 2025 edition linking it to alleged plots against Sikh separatists in North America.
Political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay told the BBC that the listing of RAW was not surprising, as intelligence agencies operate closely with the ruling political system and government of the day.
The report urges linking future US security assistance and bilateral trade policies to verifiable improvements in religious freedom conditions in India.
It also calls for pressing India to allow in-country assessments by USCIRF and the US State Department.
Reactions in India have been swift and sharp.
The Ministry of External Affairs categorically rejected the report as motivated, biased, and based on questionable sources and ideological narratives.
Indian officials described it as presenting a distorted and selective picture of the country, ignoring its pluralistic framework and harmonious coexistence of diverse communities.
The opposition Congress party welcomed aspects of the report, stating it vindicated long-standing concerns.
On its X account, Congress called for an immediate ban on the RSS, seizure of its assets, and restrictions on entry to the United States for associated individuals.
The party recalled that after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had imposed a ban on the RSS.
Social media platforms in India saw intense debate following the report’s release.
The recommendations remain non-binding, as the US State Department has not acted on previous USCIRF designations of India as a Country of Particular Concern.
However, the call to halt arms sales under a specific US law adds pressure amid deepening strategic ties between Washington and New Delhi.
India remains a major purchaser of US military equipment, with deals contributing to bilateral defense cooperation.
The USCIRF’s push ties these relations to human rights benchmarks, potentially complicating future transactions.
Analysts note that while past reports focused on reviews of arms sales, the 2026 version explicitly demands a halt.
This shift reflects escalating concerns over alleged transnational activities and domestic minority protections.
The report also recommends Congress reintroduce and pass the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024 for annual tracking of such acts targeting religious minorities in the US.
Overall, the USCIRF maintains that religious freedom in India has deteriorated, with government policies facilitating discrimination.
It documents mob violence, destruction of homes, and impunity for perpetrators in some cases.
The commission’s chair emphasized the need for US action to address persecution globally, including in India.
Despite strong pushback from New Delhi, the report underscores growing international scrutiny of India’s record on religious freedoms.