SOURCE: AFI
In a recent column for Tribune.com.pk, Dr. Moonis Ahmar, a former Dean Faculty of Social Science at the University of Karachi, highlighted a critical issue that often remains overlooked amidst the complex geopolitics of South Asia: the persecution faced by Indian Muslims. Dr. Ahmar’s reflections resonate deeply, shedding light on the moral imperative for Pakistan and Bangladesh to stand in solidarity with their fellow Muslims across the border.
Principally, Dr. Ahmar argues, the creation of Pakistan was rooted in the aspiration to provide a homeland for Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent. Yet, despite this foundational principle, the influx of Indian Muslims into Pakistan ceased after 1951. This historical fact raises pertinent questions about the responsibility of Pakistan, and indeed Bangladesh, towards their brethren facing persecution in India.
Dr. Ahmar draws attention to the stark disparity between Pakistan’s accommodation of over 3 million Afghan refugees, primarily in the name of Jihad, and its reluctance to extend similar hospitality to Indian Muslims fleeing persecution. The contrast is striking: while Pakistan opened its borders to Afghan refugees, it has failed to provide sanctuary to Indian Muslims whose lives are endangered in their own country.
Moreover, Dr. Ahmar underscores the lack of will and commitment among Pakistanis and Bangladeshis to support Indian Muslims facing persecution. This indifference stands in stark contrast to India’s policies, particularly under the Modi regime, which actively seeks to settle persecuted religious minorities, particularly Hindus, from neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
The absence of hope for Indian Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh reflects a broader regional failure to uphold the principles of religious tolerance and humanitarianism. While India receives international attention for its treatment of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, its Muslim-majority neighbors seem to turn a blind eye to the plight of Indian Muslims.