Pakistan trashes ill-informed US report on religious freedom
ISLAMABAD
There is no ambiguity in Pakistan Kashmir policy and Kashmir dispute is integral part of Pakistan foreign policy.
This was said by Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch here during weekly press briefing Thursday. She held Pakistan wants resolution of Kashmir issue as per UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Pakistan has and will continue to highlight Kashmir issue on every forum.
She observed Deputy Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Nasir bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood visited Pakistan on 16 – 17 May 2023. He called on the Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Narcotics Control. During the visit two sides also signed the Agreement on Road to Makkah Project. Road to Makkah project is a mechanism for shifting immigration and customs clearance process from Saudi Arabia to Islamabad International Airport aimed to relieve Hujjaj from the ordeal of immigration and customs clearance on landing at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The two sides will remain engaged to expand the number of airports in Pakistan to benefit from this facility.
She held Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is at the Pakistan-Iran border today where he will meet President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ebrahim Raisi. In their meeting, the two leaders will discuss all aspects of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties. They will inaugurate Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace and Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line at Mand-Pishin border crossing point.
The Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace is one of the six border markets to be constructed along the Pakistan-Iran border as agreed under the MoU signed on 21st April 2021. The border markets are envisaged along the Pakistan-Iran border to facilitate the people on both sides of the border with enhanced cross-border trade, fostering economic growth and opening up of new avenues of opportunity for local businesses We categorically reject the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the International Religious Freedom Report released by the U.S. Department of State. Such ill-informed reporting exercises about internal affairs of sovereign states are pointless, irresponsible and counterproductive.
We are proud of our religious diversity and pluralistic social fabric. Pakistan’s Constitution, sets a robust framework for wide-ranging legal, policy and affirmative measures to safeguard and advance the rights and freedoms of all Pakistanis irrespective of their faith.
