US Places Pakistan on Watch List for Religious Freedom Violations

US also said it re-designated 10 countries as “countries of particular concern” under Int’l Religious Freedom Act.

The relations between US and Pakistan have soured in the last few days.

(Photo: The Quint)

The US State Department has placed Pakistan on a special watch list for "severe violations of religious freedom," it said in a statement on Thursday, 4 January.

The State Department also said it had re-designated 10 countries as "countries of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act for having engaged in or tolerated egregious violations of religious freedom.

The re-designated countries were China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They were re-designated on 22 December.

The protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity. These designations are aimed at improving the respect for religious freedom in these countries.

US State Department Statement

The development comes days after US President Donald Trump slammed Pakistan as a 'safe haven' for terrorists and said that the "United States had foolishly given more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years."

Trump's 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 the tweet by Trump.