ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Sunday dismissed remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding Pakistan’s Shia community, terming them “cynical and diversionary” and an attempt to deflect attention from its own domestic issues.

The response came after comments by Indian officials referencing statements attributed to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir, following his recent meeting with Shia clerics in Rawalpindi. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting focused on national security and the role of religious scholars in promoting societal harmony, with emphasis on preventing the misuse of religious sentiments to incite violence.

India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had claimed the remarks reflected what he described as “systemic victimisation of minorities” in Pakistan.

Reacting to the statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi rejected the claims, saying India’s comments were politically motivated and lacked credibility.

He said the remarks could not mask what he described as a pattern of discrimination and violence against minorities in India, including Muslims, Christians and other marginalised groups. He pointed to incidents of mob violence, restrictions on religious practices, and attacks on places of worship as areas of concern.

According to the Foreign Office, such incidents are well documented and reflect a broader climate of intolerance. The spokesperson also cited figures regarding mob lynchings, stating that dozens of Muslims had reportedly been killed in recent years.

He further alleged that extremist groups had targeted mosques and that perpetrators often acted with impunity.

Pakistan urged India to address these concerns within its own borders, ensure the protection of all communities in line with constitutional and international obligations, and refrain from making what it termed unfounded statements about other countries.