FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2005

Contact: 
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) will hold a public, on-the-record hearing on Thursday, June 30 on "The United States and Pakistan: Navigating a Complex Relationship." The hearing is scheduled for 2:00pm - 4:00pm in the Senate Dirksen Office Building, Room 138.

The State Department continues to characterize Pakistan's human rights record as "poor."  Yet, Pakistan is considered by the Administration to be a key ally in the war on terrorism and the country has received a substantial increase in U.S. assistance since 9/11.  There is concern among some observers, however, that current U.S. policies have resulted in a muting of U.S. criticism of the Musharraf government's democracy and human rights practices, which may ultimately be undermining U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. 

Since 2002, the Commission has recommended that Pakistan be named a "country of particular concern," or CPC, for severe violations of religious freedom.  To date the State Department has not designated Pakistan a CPC.

What: "The United States and Pakistan: Navigating a Complex Relationship"

When: Thursday, June 30, 2005, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Senate Dirksen Office Building, Room 138.

To examine the current state of U.S.-Pakistan relations, Commissioners will hear expert testimony from the following confirmed witnesses:

Christine Fair , Research and Studies Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

Husain Haqqani , Visiting Scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Ambassador Karl Inderfurth , Director and Professor, International Affairs Program, The George Washington University

Danielle Pletka , Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

Witness testimony and a transcript of the hearing will be made available on the Commission's web site at www.uscirf.gov after the event.