WASHINGTON DC: The US State Department has placed Pakistan on a special watch list for “severe violations of religious freedom,” it said on Thursday, days after the White House said Islamabad would have to do more to combat terrorism and receive US aid.
The State Department also said it had re-designated 10 other nations as “countries of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act for having engaged in or tolerated egregious violations of religious freedom.
We believe that the protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity. So in accordance with legislation, @StateDept annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. pic.twitter.com/g0L7iFsdVo
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) January 4, 2018
Today, we have re-designated #Burma, #China, #Eritrea, #Iran, #NorthKorea, #Sudan, #SaudiArabia, #Tajikistan, #Turkmenistan, and #Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern, and #Pakistan as part of a Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom.
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) January 4, 2018
The re-designated countries were China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
“These designations are aimed at improving the respect for religious freedom in these countries.”
US President Donald Trump has criticised Pakistan for not doing more to combat terrorism, and his administration has informed members of Congress that it will announce plans to end “security assistance” payments to the country.
Pakistan has said it is already doing a lot to fight militants and summoned the US ambassador to explain a tweet by Trump that said the United States had been foolish in dispensing aid to Islamabad.