Washington: Pakistan and India were among several countries, which came under criticism before a Congressional panel for their treatment of religious minorities.

Pakistan has failed to protect religious minorities from sectarian violence and to hold the perpetrators to account, including those responsible for the recent upsurge in attacks targeting Christians, Felice Gaer, chairperson of the US commission on international religious freedom, said on October 9.

While testifying before the house sub-committee on international operations and Human Rights, she said discriminatory laws have been used by Pakistan to imprison individuals who practice their faith peacefully and to create an atmosphere of religious intolerance.

"Too many of Pakistan's Islamic religious schools continue to provide ideological training and motivation to those who take part in violence targeting religious minorities in Pakistan and elsewhere," she added.

US' relations with Pakistan, which changed enormously in the past year should afford it the opportunity to press for and encourage reforms in law and practice, she said.

For the past two years, the commission has expressed concern about severe violence against religious minorities around the world in which there has been a pattern of failure to bring those responsible to account, she said.

Referring to the recent Gujarat riots, she said, "The American Ambassador and other senior officials should speak out and ask the Indian government to take action to protect Muslims and hold perpetrators accountable before the law."

PTI