Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over the persecution of religious minorities in India, citing recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas and violence against Muslims.

Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan was alarmed by state-sponsored campaigns targeting Muslims in India, including the demolition of homes and repeated incidents of lynching.

He specifically referred to the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, claiming that the Indian state had worked to shield those responsible from accountability, adding that such actions had heightened fear and alienation among Muslim communities.

“The persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern,” Andrabi said, noting that the list of victims of such violence was “sadly long.”

He urged the international community to take notice of these developments and called for appropriate steps to protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.