The report names 17 countries, including Pakistan, as being of particular concern.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday declared that Pakistan rejects the US report on religious freedom, criticising it for lacking transparency.
Speaking at a weekly media briefing, the spokesperson stressed that the report ignores efforts to ensure religious freedom in Pakistan and does not help promote human rights.
The report recommended that the U.S. State Department designate 17 countries, including Pakistan, as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) for serious violations of religious freedom, and criticized Pakistan for institutional problems such as its enforcement of blasphemy laws and its failure to protect religious minorities from forced conversions.
Mumtaz also announced that the government has approved Gaza medical students to complete their education in Pakistan. These students will soon be admitted to Pakistani medical colleges to further their studies in cardiology, surgery and other fields.
Regarding Afghanistan, the spokesman said Asif Durrani represented Pakistan at the Afghanistan Conference in Doha. A meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials was held on July 1, where Durrani highlighted concerns that terrorists were receiving support from within Afghanistan.
The two countries are actively discussing these concerns. Pakistan has serious concerns about support for terrorists originating from Afghanistan and these issues were also raised at the Doha meeting.
