Speaking at the Lok Sabha on Friday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishhankar highlighted Pakistan's hard-to-change fanatical mindset in the context of incidents involving attacks on minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Jaishankar's remarks came during the Question Hour when he underscored 10 incidents involving attacks on Hindus in Pakistan in February. Quoting Jaishankar, PTI reported that seven out of these ten incidents were related to abduction and forced conversion, two other cases linked to abduction, and one to "police action" against students celebrating Holi.
What All Did Jaishankar Say?
While highlighting the incidents, the union minister also asserted that New Delhi was tracking the developments and the treatment of minorities in Pakistan "very closely" and making its position "well known" while regretting that India cannot change the "fanatical and bigoted mindset" of a neighbour.
Responding to a supplementary question, he said, "Like in Pakistan, we track the welfare and well-being of minorities in Bangladesh as well ... In 2024, we had 2,400 incidents relating to attacks on minorities and in 2025, 72 incidents ... I have taken it up with my counterpart there. The foreign secretary also took it up when he visited Bangladesh. This continues to be a matter of concern for our government."
In line with Jaishankar's thoughts, BJP's Nishikant Dubey also pointed out at the Lok Sabha that there had been four agreements between India and Pakistan, including the Nehru-Liaquat Pact of 1950 to ensure protection of minorities. The BJP MP later sought to know whether these agreements need to be redone.
Responding to this, Jaishankar said, "We have responded to the situation of minorities in different ways. Many of the agreements that the honourable member has referred to, do not apply anymore in reality, because there were commitments made by Pakistan for protection of its minorities, which it did not live up to".
"So, while we are raising our voice and exposing the attacks on minorities, if there are minorities who come to India, we take a sympathetic view of them. We have given them long-term visas. From 2014, we have granted 50,019 visas for minorities who came from Pakistan," he said.
Jaishankar also iterated that there were also three cases related to atrocities against members of the Sikh community. In one case, a Sikh family was attacked; in another, a Sikh family was threatened for reopening an old Gurdwara, and yet another case involved the abduction and conversion of a girl from the Sikh community, he said.
Responding to a query on whether India plans "tough action" on the lines of earlier prime minister Indira Gandhi's stance against Pakistan, Jaishankar said New Delhi is making its position "well known" but "we as a government and a country cannot change the fanatical and bigoted mindset of a neighbour." "Even Indira Gandhi could not do it," he observed.
The minister said India has on several occasions highlighted the condition of minorities and "violation of their human rights in Pakistan" at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"It is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to discharge its constitutional obligations towards its citizens, including those from the minority communities. Based on the reports of atrocities against minorities in Pakistan, the Government of India has, from time to time, taken up the matter with the Government of Pakistan and asked it to take steps to protect and promote the safety, security and the well-being of its minority communities," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
