On Monday, Pakistan rejected its designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by the United States State Department due to concerns over religious freedom in the South Asian nation. The U.S. State Department had classified Pakistan as a CPC on January 4, following a recommendation from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release that unequivocally dismissed its CPC status, criticizing the decision as detached from reality and biased. It emphasized that “Pakistan is a pluralistic country with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony. In alignment with its constitution, Pakistan has undertaken extensive measures to promote religious freedom and protect minority rights.”
The statement also expressed deep concern over India’s absence on the list, despite recommendations from USCIRF and international human rights issues about India’s treatment of religious minorities. Pakistan questioned the process’s credibility, transparency, and objectivity, arguing that such unilateral exercises undermine the mutual goal of advancing religious freedom globally. Pakistan has expressed its concerns about these designations to the U.S.
Apart from Pakistan, the State Department has also designated Burma, China, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as CPCs for severe violations of religious freedom.
The USCIRF, established in 1998 by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that monitors global religious freedom violations using international standards and makes policy recommendations. According to the IRFA’s mandates, the Secretary of State is required to designate “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) for systematic and severe violations of religious freedom.
In a recent press release, USCIRF expressed disappointment with the State Department for not designating Nigeria and India as CPCs, despite meeting the legal standard. They called for a congressional hearing on the matter and also highlighted the waiver of sanctions on Pakistan despite its re-designation as a CPC. In an earlier report, USCIRF reiterated its recommendation of re-designation for Pakistan due to the misuse of blasphemy laws against minorities.