The State Department on Thursday announced Pakistan had been added to a "special watch list" due to its treatment of religious minorities within the country's borders.
Pakistan was added to the list under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 last month, with the announcement citing the country's "severe violations of religious freedom."
The department also announced that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Rex Wayne TillersonNYT says it was unfair on Haley curtain story Rubio defends Haley over curtains story: Example of media pushing bias Fear and loathing in the swamp: Woodward channels Washington groupthink MORE moved to redesignate Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as countries of "particular concern."
The law was passed during the Clinton administration as part of an effort to make religious freedom a key objective of U.S. foreign policy.
Pakistan, which is an Islamic republic, has been under scrutiny for its treatment of religious minorities in the country.
The State Department raised the issue of religious intolerance in Pakistan in a 2016 report, and said U.S. officials have met with various Pakistani officials to discuss ways to combat violence and intolerance against religious minorities.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said in a 2017 report "the Pakistani government continued to perpetrate and tolerate systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations."
The commission cited Hindus, Christians and Shiia Muslims as being the victims of sectarian violence in the country, as well as the government's failure to work to prevent and prosecute those responsible.
The addition of Pakistan to the list follows increased tensions between the two countries in recent days.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump stands by tweets questioning Puerto Rico death toll: 'NO WAY' Trump pushes back on ex-lawyer putting out book, cites 'attorney-client privilege' Wealthiest Republican supporter in Ohio quits party MORE tore into Pakistan in his first tweet of 2018, accusing the country of providing the U.S. with “nothing but lies & deceit.”
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018
The New Year's Day tweet resulted in the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan being summoned to Pakistan's foreign ministry.
