ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Saturday issued a stronglyworded statement sharply criticizing India for implementing policies thatinvolve the profiling of mosques and their management committees in IndianIllegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Officials described these measures asa deliberate attempt to target and marginalize the Muslim population in thedisputed territory. The statement emphasized that such actions reveal thedeeply communal nature of the governing authorities and represent acontinuation of coercive tactics aimed at suppressing religious freedom.
The Foreign Office specifically condemned the forcible collection ofpersonal information, photographs, and sectarian details of religiousfunctionaries and mosque committee members. According to the statement,these practices constitute systematic harassment designed to create anatmosphere of fear among worshippers. Authorities asserted that theultimate objective appears to be obstructing the free and independentexercise of religious practices in the region, thereby undermining thefundamental rights guaranteed under international human rights frameworks.
This latest diplomatic protest follows closely on the heels of concerningrevelations published by a Washington-based research organization. TheIndia Hate Lab, in its comprehensive annual report released earlier thisweek, documented a significant thirteen percent increase in hate speechincidents targeting religious minorities across India during 2025. Thestudy highlighted that Muslims and Christians remained the primary victims,with documented cases showing a marked escalation compared to the previousyear.
The research further indicated that the overwhelming majority of reportedhate speech incidents occurred in states administered by the BharatiyaJanata Party. Analysts familiar with the report observed that thisgeographical concentration raises serious questions regarding thecorrelation between political governance and the tolerance of communalrhetoric. The findings have drawn renewed international attention to thedeteriorating situation faced by minority communities in various parts ofthe country.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office statement linked the profiling activities inIIOJK to this broader pattern of intolerance. Diplomats argued that theselective targeting of Muslim religious infrastructure and leadership inthe occupied territory should be viewed as an extension of the sameideological approach responsible for rising hate incidents elsewhere inIndia. They maintained that such policies erode the secular character ofthe state and violate multiple provisions of international law.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed alarm over theincreasing restrictions imposed on Muslim religious institutions in Jammuand Kashmir since the abrogation of special status in August 2019. Reportsindicate that dozens of mosques have faced administrative interference,including forced closures, audits of financial records, and mandatoryregistration requirements that many community leaders consider intrusiveand discriminatory in nature.
Read Top Stories
The timing of Pakistan’s condemnation carries added significance given therecent publication of the India Hate Lab data. Observers suggest thatIslamabad seeks to highlight the continuity between domestic communaltrends within India and the specific policies being enforced in thedisputed region. By drawing this connection, Pakistani authorities aim tounderscore the systemic character of the challenges confronting Muslimpopulations under Indian administration.
International legal experts note that freedom of religion constitutes acornerstone of human rights protected under the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.Any measures perceived as intentionally hindering the practice of faith orintimidating religious leaders are therefore subject to close scrutiny byglobal monitoring bodies and concerned member states.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that theresolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains essential for lastingpeace and stability in South Asia. Officials expressed hope that sustainedinternational pressure would compel New Delhi to reconsider policies widelyregarded as detrimental to communal harmony and minority protections withinits jurisdiction.
ogimageimage-name
