LAHORE: The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday called for Pakistan to safeguard the rights of its religious minorities and afford them equal treatment under the law.
Justin Welby, the leader of the world’s Anglicans, was on a two-day visit to the eastern city of Lahore where he met with church leaders, government officials and members of the minority Christian community.
“Christians, historically, have given tremendous services to this country and I hope they can be given the scale of freedom and equal rights under the law,” he said.
He added his message to the people and government of this country was to respect and safeguard the rights of all minorities.
Muslims constitute around 97 percent of Pakistan’s 180 million people and minorities face severe discrimination as well as violence.
Kabul summons Pakistani envoy
Kabul: The ministry of foreign affairs of Afghanistan yesterday summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, over cross-border shelling.
Ershad Ahmadi, deputy foreign ministry for political affairs, lodged strong protest with Abrar Hussain, the ambassador of Pakistan over the cross-border shelling in eastern Kunar and Nuristan and other parts of Afghanistan.
Foreign ministry following a statement, relayed by Khaama Press today said Ahmadi also conveyed the government’s concerns regarding the building of military installations along the Durand Line.
The statement further added that Ahmadi strongly condemned the shelling by Pakistani military and warned that such interventions will harm the relations between the two nations.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan has said that the concerns of the government of Afghanistan will be referred to concerned officials in Pakistan.
9 Taliban killed in military raids
Kabul: Nine Taliban militants were killed in joint operations launched by Afghan security forces and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) during the past twenty-four hours in different regions of the country.
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said in a statement today that Afghan forces carried out with ISAF several joint operations killing nine Taliban militants, injuring two others, and arresting nine others.
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