In a glaring paradox, Pakistan rails against global Islamophobia while its Shia and Ahmadi Muslim minorities suffer systemic abuse at home. A new European Times investigation lays bare this uncomfortable truth, challenging Islamabad’s moral authority.
Shia Muslims have long borne the brunt of sectarian strife. Bombings at shrines, assaults on mourning processions, and raids on settlements occur with alarming frequency, yet accountability remains elusive. Law enforcement’s inaction fuels a cycle of impunity.
Ahmadis face an even harsher reality. Declared non-Muslims by law, they are barred from Islamic rites and live under constant threat. Mobs torch their mosques, and blasphemy laws are wielded to silence their faith. Social boycotts compound their isolation.
Pakistan’s foreign policy mirrors this inconsistency. While decrying Western aggressions, its airstrikes in Afghanistan during sacred months kill innocents, exposing selective outrage. Appeals to Muslim unity serve geopolitical ends more than spiritual ones.
Army Chief Asim Munir’s tenure has seen Pakistan prioritize domestic and frontier concerns over allied expectations from nations like Saudi Arabia. The report urges introspection: Pakistan cannot credibly advocate for Muslims abroad without safeguarding them at home.
Reform is imperative. Ending minority persecution would lend weight to Pakistan’s global voice, transforming rhetoric into resonant leadership.