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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States (US) have resolved to deepen their maritime cooperation and strengthen defense engagements, Pakistan Navy said on Friday.

The statement by Pakistan Navy's Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) came after Pakistani Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf's visit to the US as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have seen significant ups and downs, but the two countries have come closer in recent months after President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after their four-day military conflict in May.

Pakistani civilian and military leaders have gained favor with Trump since publicly endorsing him for a Nobel Peace Prize for the ceasefire, with the US president significantly lowering trade tariffs on Pakistan to 19 percent in July this year.

"Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited United States of America as part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and defense engagements. During the visit, the Naval Chief called on US Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, and Acting Vice Commandant of the US Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr.," the DGPR said in a statement.

"Matters of professional interest, regional security dynamics, and avenues for professional training and maritime cooperation were discussed during these meetings."

The Pakistani naval chief visited the US National Defense University (NDU) and met its president, Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Stanley L. Brown, on a visit to the US State Department.

"The engagements encompassed deliberations on politico-military cooperation, maritime security, capacity-building initiatives, and shared maritime interests," the DGPR said.

The Pakistani naval chief also addressed a gathering of US scholars, at which he highlighted regional maritime security challenges and Pakistan Navy’s contributions towards collaborative maritime efforts.

"The visit of the Naval Chief reflects the enduring defense ties between Pakistan and the United States, reaffirming the mutual commitment to promoting maritime security in the region and beyond," the DGPR added.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday stressed the need for procedural safeguards, fair investigation and judicial sensitivity in blasphemy-related cases, urging educational reforms to promote tolerance and civic responsibility.

The minister said this while addressing a national symposium on ‘Interfaith Harmony and Fundamental Rights — A Constitutional Imperative,’ organized by the Federal Judicial Academy and the Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan under the auspices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Blasphemy, punishable by death as per Pakistani law, is a sensitive subject in Muslim-majority Pakistan where mere accusations have led to street lynchings. Human rights groups say Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores.

In his address, Tarar highlighted Pakistan’s recent policy and legislative initiatives, including the Interfaith Harmony Policy, the National Action Plan and the establishment of Minority Protection Cells and Human Rights Awareness Programs, to promote inclusivity and safeguard minority rights.

“Respect for minorities and protection of their rights lie at the heart of Pakistan’s Constitution and remain a fundamental responsibility of the State,” he was quoted as saying by the Press Information Department (PID).

According to the latest digital census conducted in 2023, over 96 percent of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, with the remaining four percent comprising 5.2 million Hindus, 3.3 million Christians, 15,992 Sikhs and others.

There have been dozens of instances of mob violence against religious minorities in Pakistan in recent years, including an attack on Christians in Jaranwala, a town in Punjab province, where churches, homes and businesses were set ablaze in August 2023. In the southern Sindh province, Hindus have frequently complained about forced conversions, particularly of young girls within their community, and attacks on temples.

Tarar highlighted key constitutional guarantees ensuring freedom of religion, equality before law and protection from discrimination, and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening access to justice for all citizens, according to the PID.

“Calling for collective action, the Minister urged the judiciary, religious scholars, media, and civil society to work together in promoting narratives of compassion and interfaith understanding,” it said.

The symposium also adopted a declaration on interfaith harmony that called for integrating interfaith sensitivity and human rights education within the justice sector; strengthening institutional mechanisms for the protection of minorities and the realization of fundamental rights; promoting interfaith harmony, social inclusion, and mutual respect as the foundation of fundamental rights; and upholding the constitutional promise of equality and justice for all citizens.