Pakistan decries its unjustified placement by US on religious freedom watch list

Pakistan on Monday “categorically rejected” its designation as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” by the US State Department under the International Religious Freedom Act, stressing it is a “pluralistic country, with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony.”

Reacting to the designation, the Pakistani Foreign Office issued a press release, saying it was “deeply dismayed” that the categorisation was based on “biased and arbitrary assessment” and was “detached from ground realities”.

The statement adds with deep concern that India, the biggest and serial violator of religious freedom, has “once again been excluded from the US State Department’s designation list”, despite public concerns raised by international human rights constituencies, about India’s maltreatment of religious minorities.