PRSEC/E/2025/0054466
Concerned Department: External: Affairs.
Pakistan frequently raises allegations of minority persecution in India during sessions at the United Nations. However, from the debates, to the extent I have observed, India does not emphatically counter these claims with specific data highlighting the condition of Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan.
At the time of Partition in 1947, Hindus constituted approximately 24% of Pakistan's population. Based on Pakistan's current population of around 255.7 million, one would expect the Hindu population to be roughly 60 million (6 crore) today, assuming natural demographic growth. In reality, the Hindu population in Pakistan is estimated to be only about 8 million (80 lakh). This stark discrepancy raises serious questions. What happened to the remaining 52 million (5.2 crore) Hindus? Have they been systematically persecuted, forced to flee, or worse?
In contrast, the Muslim population in India has grown significantly—by some estimates, nearly sixfold since 1947. This raises a critical point: in which other country has a community that is allegedly persecuted managed to grow at such a high rate?
While we have full faith in our capable representatives at the UN, it is crucial that India proactively and consistently presents this data on international platforms. By doing so, we can ensure that neutral countries like Switzerland are not misled by selective narratives and propaganda.