The Plight of Pakistani Hindus: Why India Must Offer Asylum

It was a typical hot and humid day in Karachi when Meera Devi, a Hindu woman, was walking back home from the market. Suddenly, a group of men appeared from behind and snatched her purse. As she pleaded for them to return her belongings, they started hurling racial slurs at her, calling her a "dirty Hindu". Meera, who had lived in Pakistan all her life, was accustomed to such incidents of discrimination and persecution. But on this day, she had had enough. She decided to flee her country and seek asylum in India.

Meera's story is unfortunately not unique. Hundreds of Pakistani Hindus like her are forced to run away from their homes every year due to religious persecution, discrimination, and violence. Hindus, who make up only 1.6% of Pakistan's population, are a minority community that faces constant harassment and marginalization at the hands of the majority Muslims. From forced conversions to land grabbing, they are subjected to all kinds of injustices.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India received 13,666 applications for asylum from Pakistani nationals in 2019 alone, out of which 95% were from the Hindu community. This shows the extent of the problem faced by Pakistani Hindus, who are left with no option but to seek refuge in a neighbouring country that shares their cultural and religious roots.

The situation is particularly dire in the Sindh province, where the majority of Pakistani Hindus reside. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1,000 cases of forced conversions of Hindu girls were reported in the province between 2013 and 2019, and the actual number is believed to be much higher. Additionally, areas like Tharparkar suffer from acute poverty, lack of education and healthcare, and an absence of basic amenities like clean drinking water.

Why India Must Offer Asylum

India, as the world's largest democracy and a champion of human rights, has a moral obligation to provide asylum to Pakistani Hindus who are in desperate need of protection. Here are three compelling reasons why:

1. Historical ties and cultural similarities: India and Pakistan share a rich history of coexistence and cultural exchange. Before Partition in 1947, the two countries were one and the same, with a shared heritage and traditions. Hindus in Pakistan speak the same language as their Indian counterparts, celebrate the same festivals, and share common customs. By providing refuge to Pakistani Hindus, India can strengthen the cultural bonds that bind the two nations.
2. International obligations: India, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has a duty to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals, regardless of their nationality or religion. By offering asylum to persecuted Pakistani Hindus, India can demonstrate its commitment to upholding these values and set an example for other countries to follow.
3. Humanitarian concerns: At the end of the day, offering asylum to Pakistani Hindus is a matter of basic human compassion and empathy. These are people who have had to flee their homes, leave behind everything they know, and start from scratch in a foreign land. India, given its economic and regional power, is well-equipped to provide them with the support they need to rebuild their lives and integrate into society.

Conclusion

The plight of Pakistani Hindus is a matter of great concern, and India must take proactive steps to offer them asylum. By doing so, it can reaffirm its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and compassion that it stands for. In order to make this possible, however, the government must take concrete measures to expedite the asylum process, provide legal and logistical support to the refugees, and ensure their smooth integration into society.

At the end of the day, what we need is a more inclusive and tolerant world, where people of all religions and ethnicities can coexist in peace and mutual respect. By offering asylum to Pakistani Hindus, India can take a step in this direction and set an example for other countries to follow.

References and Hashtags

• https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/amb-speech/Statement_of_IM_K.Verma_on_Asylum_seekers_from_Pakistan_16.08.2013.pdf
• https://dailytimes.com.pk/679979/pakistani-hindus-suffering-from-long-standing-discrimination/
• https://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/pakistani-hindu-girls-sought-for-conversion-to-islam-and-marriage-part-2/
• Hashtags: #pakistanihindus #india #asylum #humanrights #religiouspersecution
• Category: Politics and Society