Washington: Stating that religious schools in Pakistan continued to provide training and motivation to those who fought in Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan and persecuted religious minorities, the US Commission on Religious Freedom has recommended that Pakistan be listed among the Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs).

"Despite the proposed law to reform madrassas, too many of Pakistan's Islamic religious schools continue to provide ideological training and motivation to those who go on to fight in Afghanistan and Kashmir, and who take part in violence targeting religious minorities in Pakistan," the Commission said and recommended that US Secretary of State Colin Powell include Pakistan in the CPC list.

Once a country is so designated, the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) requires that the US "oppose these egregious and systematic violations, whether the government itself commits them or tolerates them".

The other countries recommended by the Commission for being listed as CPCs include India, Myanmar, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Laos, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.

This is the first time that the inclusion of India, Pakistan and Vietnam in the list has been recommended.

Members of the Commission told Congress at a hearing, "Pakistan has failed adequately to protect religious minorities (Hindus, Ahmadis and Christians) from sectarian violence. Discriminatory religious legislation, including the blasphemy and anti-Ahmadi laws, helps create an atmosphere of religious intolerance."

PTI