Resolution on Islamophobia

The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a resolution calling for the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Pakistan co-sponsored the resolution with the Philippines. Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram urged all countries to fight Islamophobia as he introduced the resolution. The draft responds to the concerns of most countries, he said before its passage. The resolution also welcomes the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and appreciates India and Pakistan's agreement to allow visa-free access to pilgrims as "a landmark initiative for interreligious and intercultural cooperation for peace”. Unfortunately, this relatively tame clause was too much for the Indian envoy to bear. Ambassador Ashish Sharma comically claimed that Pakistan was using the clause "to deceive the international community" and settle bilateral scores. Perhaps the Indian diplomat would have been more comfortable if we went the Indian way and started blaming minorities for all that ails our country?

What was also surprising was that he managed to say, with a straight face, that "India firmly condemns... Islamophobia and anti‑Christian acts”. Perhaps he forgets that the BJP-RSS combine regularly makes headlines for attacking, torturing, and killing members of all minority religious groups, and especially followers of Abrahamic faiths. There was also some irony in his complaint that the resolution does not explicitly "acknowledge the rise of hatred and violence against Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism”. Given that most of the violence against Sikhs, Buddhists, and lower-caste Hindus occurs in India, this statement was either an own goal or an intentional effort to get fired. Akram rightly said, "It is beyond India's capacity to comprehend gestures of peace and religious harmony. While Pakistan is opening its doors to Sikhs, one only has to see what is happening around Delhi to see how India treats its minorities, including Muslims and Sikhs. India should take steps to protect minorities and their places of worship."