--- title: "How Indian Hindus and Muslims view their regional neighbors" description: "Religion & Public Life A weekly digest of the Center’s latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ Media mentions Bishop Boxie shares faith journey from practicing law to becoming youngest U.S. bishop Aug. 22 – EWTN News In the news California couple confront their surrogate in a […]" date: "2026-08-26" authors: - name: "Jeff Diamant" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/religion-weekly/how-indian-hindus-and-muslims-view-their-regional-neighbors/" --- # How Indian Hindus and Muslims view their regional neighbors --- August 26, 2026 ## Religion & Public Life *A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · [**Subscribe ↗**](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)* --- [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/08/13/india-and-pakistan-rivals-with-divergent-views-of-the-global-order/) ## [**How Indian Hindus and Muslims view their regional neighbors**](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/08/13/india-and-pakistan-rivals-with-divergent-views-of-the-global-order/) Nearly 80 years after the dissolution of British India led to the formation of an independent India and Pakistan, a [new Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/08/13/india-and-pakistan-rivals-with-divergent-views-of-the-global-order/) finds that most people in each country view the other country as their greatest geopolitical threat. People in India and Pakistan have largely unfavorable views of the other nation, reflecting the continued animosity between these two longstanding rivals. India has the world’s largest [Hindu population](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/hindu-population-change/#countries-with-the-highest-hindu-counts) and the third-highest [Muslim population](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/muslim-population-change/#countries-with-the-highest-muslim-counts). Hindus and Muslims in the country tend to have different views about some of their regional neighbors. Indian Muslims feel much more positively than Indian Hindus toward the Muslim-majority countries of Pakistan (21% vs. 6%) and Bangladesh (41% vs. 23%). Still, two-thirds of Indian Muslims express a *negative* view of Pakistan. For more details, go to [the report](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/08/13/how-do-south-asians-view-other-countries-in-the-region/). - **Related:** [Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/religion-in-india-tolerance-and-segregation/) #### Media mentions [Bishop Boxie shares faith journey from practicing law to becoming youngest U.S. bishop](https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/bishop-boxie-youngest-u-s-bishop) Aug. 22 - EWTN News #### In the news [](#)[California couple confront their surrogate in a Texas court as dispute over newborn escalates](https://apnews.com/article/baby-surrogacy-mckenna-ivf-texas-heart-surgery-3df649dd00acd9fec8324687be557044) Aug. 26 - The Associated Press [Rohingya refugees rally in Bangladesh camps to demand safe return to Myanmar](https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-rohingya-myanmar-refugees-coxs-bazar-anniversary-3383abd660a01faae8681ba93a3db224) Aug. 25 - The Associated Press [](#)[Dolly Parton, country music icon who celebrated her Christian faith, dies at 80](https://religionunplugged.com/news/2026/8/25/dolly-parton-country-music-icon-who-celebrated-her-christian-faith-dies-at-80) Aug. 25 - Religion Unplugged [](#)[Two unvaccinated people died from measles in Pennsylvania, officials say](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/well/measles-deaths-pennsylvania-outbreak.html) Aug. 25 - The New York Times * [](#)[Indonesians brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires](https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-sumatra-forest-fires-rain-prayers-ffbea47df1da615f88f8d4ca5b8be4cb) Aug. 25 - The Associated Press [](#)[References to ‘mortal sin’ anger judge and defense in Lindsay Clancy trial](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/us/lindsay-clancy-trial-religion-catholic.html) Aug. 24 - The New York Times * [Ebola cases in DRC hit 5,515 as Pope Leo urges global action to save lives](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/24/ebola-cases-in-drc-top-5515-as-pope-leo-urges-global-action-to-save-lives) Aug. 24 - Al Jazeera [Let there be sunlight: Vatican plans solar and agriculture plant to cover its electricity needs](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vatican-build-100-million-renewable-energy-plant-sources-say-2026-08-22/) Aug. 22 - Reuters * [11 faith groups accuse Trump administration of violating court order while spying on churches](https://religionnews.com/2026/08/20/11-faith-groups-accuse-trump-administration-of-violating-court-order-while-spying-on-churches/) Aug. 20 - Religion News Service [](#)[As AI enters Sikh life, old debates on technology and tradition continue](https://religionnews.com/2026/08/20/as-ai-enters-sikh-life-old-debates-on-technology-and-tradition-continue/) Aug. 20 - Religion News Service