U.S. State Department Silent on USCIRF’s Push to Designate India as a ‘Country of Particular Concern

The U.S. State Department has chosen not to comment on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's (USCIRF) recommendation to designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) in its latest annual report. This marks another year in which the USCIRF has pushed for India’s inclusion in the CPC list, a call that has consistently been ignored by the U.S. government.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the department is reviewing the USCIRF's findings but refrained from making any remarks about potential diplomatic actions. This pattern of non-committal responses reflects Washington's careful approach to balancing human rights concerns with strategic interests in South Asia.

The USCIRF has been advocating for India's CPC status since 2020, citing what it describes as systematic violations of religious freedoms. Its latest report claims that religious minorities in India are facing increasing violence, suppression, and restrictive policies, both domestically and internationally. Notably, the commission has also called for sanctions against India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), over its alleged role in targeting dissidents abroad.

India has strongly rejected these accusations, dismissing the USCIRF as a "biased and agenda-driven entity" with no real authority over U.S. foreign policy decisions. New Delhi argues that the commission selectively targets India while ignoring similar issues in other countries. Indian officials have also pointed out that the U.S. State Department itself has not adopted the USCIRF's recommendations, indicating a disconnect between the commission’s stance and actual U.S. policy.

Currently, the CPC list includes countries like China, North Korea, and Pakistan, nations that the U.S. government officially considers as engaging in extreme religious persecution. Despite repeated recommendations, India has never been placed on this list, reflecting the broader geopolitical and economic considerations that shape Washington’s approach toward New Delhi.

While the USCIRF continues to push its agenda, the U.S. administration appears unwilling to escalate tensions with India, a key partner in countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific. This diplomatic tightrope walk underscores the complex nature of international human rights advocacy when intertwined with global power dynamics.