The US State Department said on Wednesday that no country should face a terrorist attack like the one suffered by Pakistani citizens, adding that Washington has a shared interest with Islamabad in fighting threats to regional security.
On Saturday, the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a newly revitalized and revitalized National Counter-Terrorism Operation. Initially named Operation Azmi Istekam, it was later renamed Azmi Istekam Vision following criticism from the opposition. Sharif said the operation symbolized the nation’s resolve to eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country.
The campaign was launched with the consent of all stakeholders including all the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during a meeting of the Central Supreme Committee on National Action Plan (NAP).
Answering specific questions about the military operation at a press conference today, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its people in a manner that promotes the rule of law and the protection of human rights.”
He said U.S.-Pakistani cooperation on security issues includes high-level counterterrorism dialogue, including funding a robust counterterrorism capacity-building program and supporting a series of U.S.-Pakistani military-to-military dialogues.
“The people of Pakistan have suffered greatly from these terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer from such acts of terrorism,” he said.
“Deeply concerned” about reports of Madian lynching
Speaking about the lynching of a man in Madyan for desecrating the Quran, Miller said ongoing incidents and reports of systematic and ongoing violations were the reason for designating Pakistan a “country of particular concern.”
On Thursday evening, a mob brutally lynched a man inside the police station and later set fire to the suspect’s body, the station and a police vehicle.
Miller said the State Department regularly consults with its Pakistani counterparts on human rights issues, including religious freedom and the treatment of religious minorities.
He reiterated that the United States was extremely concerned by reports of the lynching, adding that it “expresses its condolences to the victim’s family and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in the mob violence.”
“Violence or threats of violence against others are never an acceptable form of expression and we oppose blasphemy laws around the world. […] “Because they endanger the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief,” he added.
“We continue to urge the Pakistani authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people,” he said.
“This includes freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly,” he added.
