AfPak File: Where Does Pakistan Stand On Religious Freedom?

This week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report for 2021. Among its recommendations are that the U.S. State Department redesignate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern.



The latest edition of The AfPak File takes stock of the current status of religious freedom in Pakistan. It uses, as an initial hook, a new Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report on conversions of Hindu women.



It also focuses on concerns about religious freedom in Pakistan more broadly, and what the future might hold.



Joining the discussion are Daud Khattak, senior editor for RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal; Dewan Sachal Lakhwani, a Pakistani member of Parliament with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party; Knox Thames, a former State Department senior adviser for religious minorities in the Near East and South & Central Asia; and Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director and senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center.



Muhammad Tahir, the Washington DC media manager for RFE/FL, moderates the discussion.

This podcast originally appeared on RFE/RL.