ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of Islamophobia in India, particularly in the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of at least 26 tourists and has since triggered increased hostility toward Muslim communities.
In a press briefing on Saturday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that Pakistan is deeply alarmed by the growing number of anti-Muslim incidents across India. “Pakistan calls upon the Government of India to uphold the rights and safety of all its citizens, regardless of faith,” he said, stressing the international implications of the deteriorating situation.
Khan added that the targeting of Muslims through hate speech, discriminatory practices, and state complicity is a pressing issue that demands global attention. “At a time when restraint and reconciliation are most needed, the deliberate incitement of religious hatred for political or ideological purposes violates international human rights obligations and undermines regional stability,” he noted.
The Pahalgam attack, which escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, also prompted Pakistan to launch Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, a wide-scale retaliatory military action targeting Indian military positions across several regions.
In the aftermath, India has witnessed a sharp rise in Islamophobic incidents, including hate crimes, intimidation, and calls for expulsion of Muslims. According to data from the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), a New Delhi-based organisation, at least 184 anti-Muslim hate incidents have been documented across India since April 22. These include three murders, as well as numerous cases of physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and widespread hate speech. Over 100 of these incidents are directly linked to the fallout from the Pahalgam attack, according to APCR.
The ultranationalist rhetoric has also spread online, where social media accounts frequently label Indian Muslims as “traitors” or “infiltrators.” The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing Hindu nationalist group, publicly called for the expulsion of “Pakistani citizens and sleeper cells,” fueling an already volatile situation.
Indian media reports quoted VHP leader Surendra Jain, who controversially implied a religious motive behind the attack, stating it was “clearly visible” that the attacker had a “Mazhab” (religion).
Real-world consequences of this hate campaign have been visible in incidents such as the vandalism of ‘Karachi Bakery’ in Hyderabad, where extremists demanded a name change simply because it bore the name of a Pakistani city.
Adding to the inflamed sentiment, a provocative song titled Pehle Dharam Pocha (“They Asked About Religion First”) has gone viral on YouTube. The song openly blames Indian Muslims for conspiring against Hindus and demands they leave the country.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office maintains that Indian Muslims often bear the brunt of political and military tensions between the two countries. “This rising wave of hate and intolerance must be condemned unequivocally. There can be no justification for collective punishment or vilification based on religious identity,” Khan concluded.
