After holding military aid and putting Pakistan on notice, now the US government says it has put Pakistan on a special watch list for its severe violation of religious freedom.
The military aid was severed for Pakistan’s failure to meet US expectations and follow ‘do more’ slogans. The military, however, insists that it has done too much not only for the sake of the US and Afghanistan but for the country itself.
The new watch list for religious freedom reasons is, however, somewhat shocking. Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry is also clueless about the new challenge and says they have asked the US government to clarify about the special watch list and what "severe violations of religious freedom" have prompted Washington to take such an extreme measures.
The US State Department, in a press release, last week had re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as "Countries of Particular Concern" — an annual practice according to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. But the harsh words like ‘special watch list’ were reserved for Pakistan. The US stated reasons too: "In far too many places around the globe, people continue to be persecuted, unjustly prosecuted, or imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief," Thursday's release read. "Today, a number of governments infringe upon individuals’ ability to adapt, change, or renounce their religion or belief, worship in accordance with their religion or beliefs, or be free from coercion to practice a particular religion or belief."
The government of Donald Trump has been working systemically to pressure Pakistan for one reason or another, both under diplomatic channels and or through public announcements. US Vice-President Mike Pence publically announced that they had put Pakistan on notice. His boss, Donald Trump, went a step ahead, tweeting on January 1: “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”
In response to the tweet and other public and official announcements, Pakistan remained unprovoked and spoke about more engagements and cooperation to resolve the issues. On the domestic front, some people in the government quarters also talked about putting the house in order too. A few half-hearted steps were also taken. The charity of Hafiz Saeed, Falah Insaniat Foundation, has been banned, while Jammatud Dawa has also been banned. Besides that, the government first time acknowledged that they had taken several steps against the Haqqani network.
Now, when Pakistan is under the international heat for “severe violations of religious freedom”, this statement should be taken with an open heart. Again, the house needs to be put in order first. Though on the government level, measures have been ensured for the protection of human rights and rights of religious freedom but at the public level, one can see people are being persecuted and killed for their religious beliefs. Ahmadis are routinely killed and socially outcast; Hindus in Sindh parts face pressure for conversion to Islam; Shia Hazaras are being killed for their sect and religious beleif, and the misuse of blasphemy laws is rampant.
Pakistan needs to ensure religious freedom and that can be done only through beating extremism and terrorism.
There is no other way out.
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