Pakistan on Thursday strongly objected to the US’s recent decision to add the country to the religious freedom blacklist and exclude India from it, saying the decision was “indifference to Pakistan’s ground realities”.
In a statement attributed to Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, it was highlighted that Pakistan is a “multireligious and pluralistic society with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony”.
Last week, the US blacklisted Pakistan, China and Latin American adversaries Cuba and Nicaragua – countries of special concern from 2021 – on international religious freedom, opening the way for possible restrictions.
Secretary of State Anthony Blanken has ignored the recommendation of the independent US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) to take no action against India, which said that minorities in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government Treatment is “significantly” worsening. The US sees India as an important emerging ally.
India has already expressed anger over the State Department’s annual report, which included inflammatory comments by Indian officials and statements of discrimination against Muslims and Christians.
The Foreign Office spokesperson expressed “deep concern and disappointment” over the US State Department’s terming the blacklisting of Pakistan as “unilateral and arbitrary”.
Calling India the “biggest violator of religious freedom”, he questioned why the country was removed from the blacklist despite the USCIRF’s “clear recommendation”.
He said the “glaring omission” raises serious questions about the credibility and transparency of the entire process and makes it a subjective and discriminatory exercise.
“International concerns over India’s treatment of religious minorities have been raised by several US Congressional hearings and reports by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedures mandate holders of the UN Human Rights Council, and leading international NGOs. have been the subject”. The spokesperson clarified.
He said that we have informed the US government about our concerns regarding this position.
Giving an example, Baloch said that the 30th anniversary of the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India is a sad reminder of the growing religious intolerance in India at the hands of Hindu fanatics, which the international community should not ignore.
The Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated that the protection of religious freedom and minority rights is guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan and is implemented through various legislative, policy and administrative measures.
