Pakistan has accused the United States of America’s 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices of lacking objectivity and politicizing human rights issues, the Foreign Office (FO) announced on Thursday.
The report, published on April 22, said there had been no significant changes in Pakistan’s human rights situation over the past year. The report alleges that the Pakistani government crosses the border to intimidate civil society activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and other individuals, or seek retribution similar to India.
The reports from both countries accuse the governments of both countries of committing serious human rights violations, including arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, torture, inhuman treatment, life-threatening prison conditions, and arbitrary arrest and political detention. is blaming. In Pakistan, it added, “a lack of accountability contributes to widespread impunity.”
The Pakistani report underscores claims made last year by activists who accuse the government of carrying out politically motivated killings and kidnappings in other countries.
The report alleges that successive Pakistani governments condoned enforced disappearances. Citing figures released in August by the Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances, it said that of the 9,967 disappearances reported to it since 2011, 7,714 have been solved and 2,253 remain unresolved. Stated.
Regarding fair trials, the report referred to the military trials of civilians accused of the May 9 riots that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Reacting to the report, the Deputy Director-General said: “Pakistan categorically rejects the recently released 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices by the US Department of State. ing.
“The US State Department’s annual exercise in producing such one-sided reports lacks objectivity, and its methodology remains inherently flawed. They use it to judge the human rights of other countries in a politically biased way.”
The report criticizes the 2023 report, saying it “once again highlights the lack of objectivity and politicization of international human rights issues,” and that it “clearly demonstrates double standards” in the debate on international human rights. He added that it would damage the.
The press release said the report, which aims to highlight the human rights situation around the world, “ignores or downplays the most pressing hotspots of gross human rights violations” such as Gaza and Indian-occupied Kashmir. “It’s very concerning,” he said.
“Only a politically motivated report could ignore the alarming situation in Gaza, the weaponization of humanitarian aid and the massacre of more than 33,000 civilians,” he said.
It added: “The United States’ silence on the continuing genocide in Gaza runs counter to the stated purpose behind the so-called National Report on Human Rights.”
In accordance with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. conducts an annual country report on human rights practices covering “internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and labor rights” for all countries receiving aid and all United Nations member states. I must mention that we are publishing a report. US Congress.
Since 1977, the U.S. Department of State has annually investigated, tracked, and documented human rights conditions in approximately 200 countries and territories, including Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan remains determined to strengthen its own human rights framework, work constructively to advance the international human rights agenda, and maintain “impartiality and objectivity” in human rights discussions. .
The report urges the United States to “at least exercise due diligence when conducting assessments of complex issues and demonstrate objectivity, impartiality, and responsibility when finalizing such reports.” I look forward to it.”
“We must demonstrate the moral courage necessary to tell the truth about all situations and play a constructive role in supporting international efforts to end atrocities in situations where gross human rights violations are most pressing.” It is.”
India dismisses US human rights report as ‘grossly biased’
Similarly, New Delhi has found no value in the US State Department’s report criticizing human rights in India, calling it grossly biased.
The report found “serious” human rights violations in India’s northeastern state of Manipur last year, as well as attacks on minorities, journalists and dissidents in other parts of the country.
Asked about the matter, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters today: “Our understanding is that this report is highly biased and shows a very inadequate understanding of India. It reflects that.”
“We see no value in it and we urge you to do the same,” Jaiswal said.
In response to a question about the escalating protests on U.S. college campuses over Israel’s attack on Gaza, which killed more than 33,000 people, Jaiswal said, “There is no right relationship between freedom of expression, responsibility, public safety and order.” There has to be a balance.” .
He added: “Democracies in particular should demonstrate this understanding to other democracies. After all, we will all be judged by what we do at home, not what we say abroad.” ” he added.
India and the United States have a close relationship, and Washington wants New Delhi to serve as a strategic counterpoint against China, but the relationship has recently encountered several minor conflicts.
In March, New Delhi dismissed U.S. concerns about implementing India’s controversial citizenship law as “misplaced” and “unwarranted” and protested statements by U.S. State Department officials about the arrest of a major opposition leader.
The US government last year accused Indian operatives of being involved in a failed assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in the US and warned New Delhi about the incident.
India said it had launched an investigation into the US government’s accusations, but there was no update on the status or findings of the investigation.
