India conveys to Pakistan serious concern over abduction of Hindus

NEW DELHI: India has conveyed to Pakistan its "serious concerns" over the abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls and marriage against their will to Muslim men there, government told the Rajya Sabha today.

In reply to a question over the problems of Hindus in Pakistan, Minister for External Affairs E Ahamed said the government has come across reports on the issues faced by minority communities in Pakistan.

"Government has from time to time come across reports on the problems faced by members of the minority communities in Pakistan, including the reports on abduction of Hindu traders from Baluchistan and the televised conversion of a Hindu young man in Pakistan to Islam," he said.

He said it is the responsibility of Pakistani government to discharge its obligation towards its citizens and "incidents of persecution and intimidation of Hindus have also been reported."

Based on reports of persecution of minority groups, the government had in the past taken up the matter with Pakistan, he said.