ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected the baseless assertions made in the recently published International Religious Freedom Report by the United States (US).
Speaking during a weekly presser, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan assured religious freedom and provided protection to its citizens.
“We categorically reject the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the International Religious Freedom Report released by the US Department of State. Such ill-informed reporting exercises about internal affairs of sovereign states are pointless, irresponsible and counterproductive,” the spokesperson said.
“Pakistan is proud of its religious diversity and pluralistic social fabric,” she said, adding that Pakistan’s constitution sets a robust framework to safeguard and advance the rights and freedoms of all Pakistanis irrespective of their faith.
The FO spokesperson further said that Pakistan strongly believes that each state itself has the primary responsibility to promote and protect religious rights and freedoms of its nationals.
“Pakistan has always engaged constructively with the international community in promoting mutual understanding on the important question of religious freedom and minority rights.”
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch welcomed the important statement made by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Affairs on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesperson said Pakistan has a principled position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute which is rooted in the UN Security Council resolutions. She categorically stated that Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute has not changed.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan remains committed to the gas pipeline project with Iran. She said: “We are engaged with Iran to discuss the issues regarding the completion of this important project.
Condemning the recent violence in Gaza, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch called on Israel to adhere to its international obligations and respect the recent ceasefire agreement.
