The gathering of faith leaders, diplomats, representatives from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, United States Institute of Peace, think tanks and civil society “provides a platform for broader perspectives about each other’s faith,” Ambassador Masood Khan said, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to fostering unity and strengthening intersocietal bonds
Interfaith Harmony is Top Priority for Pakistan’s Government, Says Amb Masood Khan
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington: “The government of Pakistan is making conscious efforts to bring people together and strengthen intersocietal linkages,” said Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, at a roundtable discussion on interfaith dialogue at the Embassy on June 25, 2024.
The gathering of faith leaders, diplomats, representatives from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, United States Institute of Peace, think tanks and civil society “provides a platform for broader perspectives about each other’s faith,” he said, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to fostering unity and strengthening intersocietal bonds.
During the roundtable discussion, former US ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson expressed her optimism about curbing violent extremism through interfaith dialogue.
Daniel Spiro of the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society emphasized the shared heritage of the Abrahamic religions and the importance of treating all people with dignity.
And Surinder Songh Gill, director of Sikhs of America, commended Pakistan for facilitating Sikh pilgrimages to their spiritual sites in Pakistan and for the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan, a peace gesture also lauded by the international community, which allows Indian Sikhs access to visit their gurdwaras (places of assembly or worship) in Pakistan.
Other speakers, including Rizwan Jaka, chairman of the Adam Center; Mike Crowe, member of All Neighbors; Alok Srivastava of the American Hindu Coalition; Ayesha Khan, a Pakistani-American community leader; and Karina Hou, a social activist and renowned artist, also echoed similar sentiments. Calling for healing and cooperation among societies, each speaker emphasized the significance of interfaith dialogue along with the importance of the Pakistani government’s efforts to protect the rights of minorities. Despite the challenges, all of the faith leaders expressed confidence in continued progress and cooperation toward a more inclusive and equitable society.
Ambassador Khan thanked all of the attendees for joining the discussion at the Embassy and praised Mr Ilyas Masih and his organization, All Neighbors, for their support.
The ambassador also held an important meeting with Pakistani-American Christians at Mar Thoma Church during his visit to Philadelphia the week of June 10 in which he assured attendees that protection of the rights of minorities, including Christians, is a top priority of his government. He related that in the wake of the fatal mob attack on May 25 on 70-year-old Nazir Masih, a Christian from Sargodha, Pakistan, the government is taking all steps to curb religious intolerance and stem the abuse of blasphemy laws.
In addition, he highlighted the measures being taken to improve police response to such incidents in order to reduce fatalities and enhance community safety. “Better police response is crucial in minimizing casualties and providing timely assistance to those in need,” Khan said.
Addressing the issue of hate speech, Ambassador Khan noted that Pakistan would continue to counter and penalize offensive discourse targeting groups or individuals.
Calling for joint efforts to promote interfaith cooperation, the ambassador stressed that Christians are an integral part of Pakistani society and that their concerns would be addressed. Khan underscored the need for mutual respect and understanding among different faiths to build a more harmonious and inclusive society.
“I stand by you,” the ambassador told the large gathering in Philadelphia. “We will always be with you. Pakistan is with you. Your complaints are our concerns, and it is our collective responsibility to redress them.”
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
