By Mashal Khan 

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday expressed deep concerns at the alarming rise in violence against Muslims in today’s India.

During a weekly briefing, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch said that on this Ram Navami, anti-Muslim violence was reported in at least eight states of India as extremist outfits organized public rallies to celebrate the festival.

"A number of mosques and other Muslim-owned buildings were attacked. A seminary was burned down in Nalanda district of Bihar, resulting, inter alia, in burning of around 4500 books, including Holy the Quran," she said.

"The terrifying rise in Islamophobic and hateful acts against Muslims in India is a consequence of the pursuit of a majoritarian Hindutva agenda and anti-Islam and anti-Muslim rhetoric rife in Indian politics," Mumtaz Baloch added.

She welcomed the statement of OIC expressing its concern on rising anti-Muslim incidents in India and urge India to take firm action against the extremists for fomenting communal violence and hatred against Muslims.

"India must take demonstrable steps to curb the rising tide of Islamophobia, to provide protection to Muslims for practicing their faith and account those responsible for such hateful acts.

"We reiterate our concerns about the safety and wellbeing of Kashmiri leaders and human rights defenders who are under incarceration in prisons across IIOJK and India," said the foreign ministry spokesperson.

Pakistan also welcomed the statement of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor and endorsed by Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Clément Nyaletsossi Voule.

The Special Rapporteur has highlighted the continuing repression of Kashmiri civil society in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She has explained how the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is being applied to smear and silence the civil society, media, and human rights defenders. She has urged India to end its crackdown against Kashmiri human rights defenders.

"We endorse her statement that India must be held accountable where it violates human rights obligations. We also urge India to bring an end to suppression of journalists and human rights defenders and to its policy of stifling freedom of expression and assembly in the occupied territory,' Baloch said.