‘Diplomatic failure’: People react as Pakistan added to blacklist for religious freedom violations

The United States on Tuesday added Pakistan to the list of countries that violate religious freedom and it has hardly come as a surprise for Pakistanis.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Pakistan has been added to ‘countries of particular concern’ under the Religious Freedom Act 1998 in an annual report which means that US is obliged to put pressure on Pakistan to end religious freedom violations.

In response to the move, Pakistan has handed a protest letter to US diplomats and dismissed being blacklisted, calling the move ‘unilateral and politically motivated’. Pakistan told the US dignitaries that the minorities in the country enjoy full freedom and that it does not need US to ‘lecture’ Pakistan over minority rights.

Moreover, Pakistan has also protested over US ignorance of Indian atrocities in the Occupied Kashmir.

For social media believers, however, the US decision has not come as a big surprise

‘Another diplomatic failure’

While PTI government is busy in witch hunting against opposition, Pakistan is black listed by US. Another diplomatic failure under Naya Pakistan. https://t.co/wxtwPNGWZo

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) December 12, 2018

‘A reminder that religious freedoms are guaranteed only in theory, not in practice’

Pakistan along with some other counties like Myanmar, Eritrea designated by US as countries of Particular Concern under Religious Freedom Act 1998 for "systematic violations of religious freedom". A reminder that religious freedoms are guaranteed only in theory, not in practice.

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) December 11, 2018

‘A move that could potentially entail economic sanctions’

US downgrades #Pakistan to a "country of particular concern" regarding protection of the right to religion or belief, a move that could potentially entail economic sanctions

In January, Pakistan had been placed on a "special watch list" for severe violations of religious freedom pic.twitter.com/3BZrhO4pXS

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) December 11, 2018

We need to go back to the basics, perhaps

"In course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus, and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense…but in the political sense as citizens of the State" Jinnah's vision of a Muslim State in the subcontinent and 71 years later this 👇👇https://t.co/r5iqhTf3AO

— Adnan Hafeez (@abdalian4ever) December 11, 2018

‘We shouldn’t need the US or anyone else telling us we have a problem’

Pakistan, we have a problem. We shouldn't need the US or anyone else telling us we have a problem. If we still can't digest the truth and work towards rectifying the situation of religious freedom in our country, we have bigger problems than the US downgrading us on this front.

— ایمان زینب (@ImaanZHazir) December 12, 2018

‘Can’t trust Trump’

Trump asking our help for peace in Afghanistan simultaneously placing Pak on blacklist for religious freedom violations, totally ignoring India, serves as reality check for Govt. Can’t trust Trump’s US. Like them, we should only do what’s good for Pakistanhttps://t.co/um5Ceoms43

— Lt Gen Ghulam Mustafa – (Retd) (@_GhulamMustafa_) December 11, 2018

The move has come weeks after US President Donald Trump expressed willingness to work with Pakistan for peace in Afghanistan. Will it disregard the little progress made?

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