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. “The protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity,” the department said in a statement. https://t.co/p06gUFU33u pic.twitter.com/QT7Dbkpp5V — Department of State (@StateDept) January 4, 2018She added that the US remained committed to advancing religious freedom around the world. Explaining the purpose of the list, she wrote that the State Department “annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom”. — Department of State (@StateDept) January 4, 2018“The independent US Commission on International Religious Freedom has frequently cited Pakistan’s failures to protect religious minorities, but State [dept] has demurred on the designation,” he said.

Source: The Express Tribune January 04, 2018 15:15 UTC