India delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan on Monday, December 29, 2025, rejecting what it termed as "baseless" allegations from Islamabad regarding the treatment of religious minorities within India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) turned the spotlight back on Pakistan's own domestic record, describing it as "abysmal" and a source of serious international concern.
Diplomatic Clash Over Minority Rights
Responding to media queries about comments made by Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a strongly-worded rejection. Jaiswal stated that New Delhi firmly dismisses the allegations, which he said originate from a nation with a "well-documented human rights record" of the worst kind.
"We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself," Jaiswal asserted. He emphasized that Pakistan's "horrific and systemic victimisation" of minorities from various faiths is an established fact that cannot be obscured by finger-pointing at others.
Pakistan's Allegations and India's Counter
The diplomatic spat was triggered when Pakistan's Andrabi called upon the international community to take note of recent incidents in India. He specifically referenced "Christmas-related vandalism and attacks on Muslims," urging global actors to safeguard the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups in the country.
This is not the first such exchange in recent weeks. Last month, Pakistan had also raised objections to the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that time, India had labeled Pakistan's remarks as "politically motivated and unacceptable," asserting that Islamabad had no standing to comment on India's internal affairs.
A Long-Standing Point of Contention
In his latest response, Jaiswal framed Pakistan's comments as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from its own domestic realities. He stated that Pakistan's treatment of religious minorities has been a long-standing and serious concern for the global community. Attempts to shift focus through unfounded accusations, he argued, would not change the situation on the ground in either nation.
"As a country with a deeply stained record of bigotry, repression, and systemic mistreatment of its minorities, Pakistan has no moral standing to lecture others," Jaiswal concluded, reiterating a position India has maintained in previous diplomatic encounters. The exchange underscores the persistent tension between the two neighbours, where human rights and minority issues frequently become tools for diplomatic point-scoring.
