ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Saturday condemned the anti-Islam film produced in the US that has sparked protest demonstrations in a number of countries while the US said it “absolutely rejects its content and message” reiterating that their government had nothing to do with this video.
In a meeting with US Special Envoy Marc Grossman, President Zardari expressed grave concern and condemned the film. He said that rationality and tolerance was fast eroding and stressed the need for collective action to stop inflaming religious sentiments of any community or people of any faith. A US Embassy spokesman said that Ambassador Grossman in his meetings with Pakistani leaders stated very clearly “that the United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video”.
He quoted the envoy as saying: “We absolutely reject its content and message. America’s commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.”
The spokesman continued: “And as you know, we are home to people of all religions, many of whom came to this country seeking the right to exercise their own religion, including, of course, millions of Muslims. And we have the greatest respect for people of faith... This video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage.”
However, he said Grossman told Pakistani leaders, as Secretary Clinton has also said, “There is no justification, none at all, for responding to this video with violence. The United States condemns the violence that has resulted in the strongest terms, and greatly appreciates that many Muslims in the United States and around the world have spoken out on this issue.”
In difficult times like these, he said the United States relies on its partnership with the government and the people of Pakistan to ensure that divisive actions by individuals do not harm the safety of Pakistanis and Americans alike.