Islamabad – Pakistan has rejected concerns raised in a newly published United States, State Department report on its human rights record, describing the findings as “selective” and failing to acknowledge the country’s security challenges and reform progress.

The report, issued on 12 August 2025, criticized Pakistan over alleged enforced disappearances, restrictions on media, minority rights, and labor protections. But Islamabad maintains that the assessment overlooks ground realities.

Selective Interpretation of Facts

Officials in Islamabad said the US findings present a selective interpretation of facts, emphasizing that no sovereign nation under siege compromises the safety of its citizens.

“Human rights reviews are increasingly weaponized as tools of pressure against fragile states, while the international community continues to turn a blind eye to enduring atrocities in Palestine, Kashmir, and other long-ignored crises,” one official noted.

Security Challenges in KP and Balochistan

Pakistan highlighted that measures taken in sensitive regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan stem from existential threats. Terrorist attacks in these areas have claimed hundreds of civilian and security lives in recent years.

Disappearances, often cited in international reports, are in many cases linked to individuals joining extremist networks, officials argued, adding that legitimate cases are investigated under law by dedicated commissions.

Legal and Institutional Reforms

Authorities pointed to ongoing reform efforts, including the anti-torture legislation, enforced through judicial oversight. Institutional reforms are being introduced to eliminate abuse and strengthen accountability.

On media freedoms, Pakistan said independent outlets continue to operate nationwide, while courts have struck down executive bans and defended journalists against harassment.

Minority Protections and Religious Laws

Responding to criticism of religious and blasphemy-related laws, officials stressed these provisions are designed to maintain social harmony in a diverse society.

“Their misuse is prosecuted,” an official added, citing progressive measures such as the Christian Marriage Act and Sikh Marriage Act as proof of Pakistan’s commitment to minority protections.

Constitutional provisions on religion, Islamabad said, are rooted in national consensus while upholding fundamental rights for all citizens.

Labor Rights and Refugee Protection

Pakistan also underscored improvements in labor protections, pointing to expanded inspections, greater union access, and stronger action against child marriage.

Claims of transnational repression, the government officials said, are baseless, stressing that Pakistan’s overseas operations are strictly targeted at internationally recognized terrorist groups.

Officials further reminded critics that Pakistan has hosted 2.3 million Afghan refugees for decades without any binding treaty obligation, a humanitarian gesture they say remains unmatched globally.

Broader Debate on Human Rights Reviews

Analysts note that Islamabad’s rejection reflects a broader concern in the Global South: that Western human rights assessments often fail to account for security realities, sovereignty concerns, or double standards in addressing global crises.

While the US maintains its report highlights areas needing urgent attention, Pakistan insists it will continue balancing reform with security, and rejects what it calls misrepresentation by hostile elements abroad.