# Zardari says Pakistan ‘tolerates’ Hindus, claims they prefer staying

2026-08-15T12:46:52+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on August 14 that the country’s Muslims “tolerate” its Hindu population and claimed Hindus would rather remain in Pakistan than move to India. He also said Indians believe in “Akhand Bharat” and that Hindus in Pakistan are free to practise their religion. India Today reports that Pakistan’s 2023 census counted 5.2 million Hindus, or 2.17% of the population, below Zardari’s estimate of 3% to 4%. Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom, but Hindu and Christian girls remain vulnerable to forced conversions, while religious minorities have faced discrimination and mob violence, according to the report citing rights groups.

## Coverage

- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-islamic-state-hindus-asif-ali-zardari-tolerate-remark-census-rights-record-human-rights-2972025-2026-08-15?utm_source=rss>
- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/zardari-claims-pakistan-s-hindus-prefer-being-with-us-says-india-believes-in-akhand-bharat-but-we-101786790852458.html>

Tags: Asif Ali Zardari, India, Pakistan
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/zardari-says-pakistan-tolerates-hindus-census-puts-share-at-2-17/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/zardari-says-pakistan-tolerates-hindus-census-puts-share-at-2-17/#story-in-brief

Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.