AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Pakistan’s Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony met with the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Islamabad to discuss strengthening interfaith dialogue, safeguarding minority rights, and enhancing regional cooperation.
The meeting was held on Wednesday at the minister’s office in Islamabad, where both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, dialogue, and fraternity in the region, identifying efforts to counter Islamophobia as a key area of joint cooperation.
Khail Das Kohistani, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, referred to Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s historic address of August 11, 1947, stating that minority rights were explicitly articulated in that speech and are also guaranteed under Pakistan’s Constitution.
He added that the ministry actively organizes interfaith meetings and dialogues across the country and that religious festivals of all minority communities are held with official support.
According to Kohistani, scholarships have been awarded to non-Muslim children under the “Minorities Welfare Fund,” and extensive measures have been taken for the maintenance and restoration of religious sites.
In response, Robert-Jan Siegert, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, described Pakistan as a unique country with rich religious, cultural, geographical, and linguistic diversity. He noted that the Netherlands does not have a separate ministry dedicated to interfaith coordination and expressed interest in benefiting from Pakistan’s experience in this field.
Emphasizing that the Dutch government places special importance on human rights and opposes all forms of discrimination, the ambassador praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and foster friendship among diverse communities.
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