ISLAMABAD: Calling it a “biased and arbitrary assessment,” Pakistan has chastised the US State Department for naming it as “a Country of Particular Concern.”
“We categorically reject Pakistan’s designation as ‘a Country of Particular Concern’ by the US State Department,” Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated. We are quite appalled by the designation’s arbitrary and biased evaluation, which is unrelated to the actual situation on the ground.
She went on to say that Pakistan is a diversified nation with a long history of religious peace. “Pakistan has implemented extensive measures to safeguard minority rights and advance religious freedom in accordance with its Constitution.”
“We note with deep concern that India, the biggest and serial violator of religious freedom, has once again been listed among those who object to the list,” Baloch added.
The spokesperson for the Foreign Office went on, “This is in spite of public concerns expressed by international human rights constituencies regarding India’s mistreatment of religious minorities and a clear recommendation made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).” Serious concerns are raised regarding the process’s neutrality, transparency, and credibility in light of this glaring absence.
She continued, saying that such biased, one-sided, and subjective actions were ineffective and jeopardized Pakistan’s common goal of promoting religious freedom around the world.
Islamabad has emphasized that constructive interaction and group initiatives based on mutual understanding and respect are the greatest ways to combat the current challenges of religious intolerance, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.
“Pakistan has established bilateral relations with the United States in a like spirit. She finished by saying that Pakistan is being informed of its reservations with the designation.
