NEW YORK: Pakistan has expressed grave concern over the escalating wave of Islamophobia, intolerance, and far-right extremism targeting minorities worldwide, particularly highlighting the alarming situation in India.
During an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues at the UN Third Committee, Pakistan’s Counsellor Saima Saleem emphasized the need for stronger global commitment to protecting minority rights, urging the United Nations to play a central role in this regard.
In India, she noted, discriminatory citizenship laws, attacks on places of worship, disinformation campaigns, calls for genocide, and hate-driven political rhetoric have become instruments of state policy.
Such actions, she said, constitute serious violations of human rights and threaten global peace and inclusive development. Saleem called on the international community to confront these trends with unity and moral clarity, hold perpetrators accountable, and reaffirm that respect for diversity is a universal obligation is not a matter of choice.
Saleem voiced deep concern over the alarming rise of Islamophobia, intolerance, and far-right extremism targeting minorities, particularly Muslims, across the world.
She condemned the politicization of religion and the systematic marginalization of entire communities.
She warned against the dangerous consequences of extremist ideologies that seek to erase cultural and religious diversity.
Saleem expressed appreciation for the comprehensive report presented by Mr. Nicolas Levrat, commending his ongoing efforts to promote and safeguard minority rights.
She concurred with his view that peace, justice, and inclusive development cannot be achieved without respect for diversity and protection of minorities.
Highlighting Pakistan’s own constitutional and institutional framework, the Counsellor said that the country’s commitment to minority rights is deeply rooted in the vision of the nation’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who upheld equality and religious freedom for all citizens.
Despite challenges, Pakistan has established robust institutions such as the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Human Rights to ensure inclusion and human dignity.
Minorities are represented through reserved seats in the Parliament and local governments, while welfare funds, scholarships, and restoration of worship sites reflect the state’s focus on their well-being.
Legal and administrative systems also provide redress against discrimination, and educational reforms continue to promote tolerance, mutual respect, and social harmony. Reaffirming Pakistan’s role, she concluded that the country will continue to play a constructive part in fostering mutual understanding, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among different faiths and cultures. “It is our collective duty,” she said, “to turn diversity into strength and differences into mutual respect.”
