ISLAMABAD: Sajid Sandhu, Chairman of the International Religious Freedom-Peace Builders Forum (IRF-PBF) Pakistan and South Asia, has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating religious freedom situation in India and called upon the United States and the international community to take meaningful action to protect Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, and other vulnerable communities.

Sandhu’s statement follows the latest findings of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which reports that religious freedom conditions in India remain on a downward trajectory. The report documents discriminatory legislation, violence against religious minorities, restrictions on faith-based organizations, and alleged transnational repression. USCIRF has recommended that the US Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

USCIRF Documents Incidents of Violence

USCIRF documents multiple incidents of violence against Christians and other religious minorities during the first half of 2026. These include attacks on Christian communities and churches, an attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik in Odisha, the destruction of a Christian family’s home in Chhattisgarh after they reportedly refused demands to reconvert to Hinduism, and an attack on a predominantly Christian village that injured at least 25 worshippers.

The report also records the killing of three Baptist pastors returning from an interchurch peace conference in Manipur.